In 2009, a large group gathered outside a listening hearing held by the USDA in Louisville KY. Folks from across the state and region had came together with one goal - letting the USDA know that NAIS (national animal ID system) was unacceptable.

One farmer who came was Wendell Berry, a legend in many parts of the country, and at the time over seventy years old.

His remarks were electrifying... and in a large part turned me into who I am today.

Wendell had spent decades at agricultural meeting.

But he had never before been greeted by any police force at any ag event, let alone the very large show of force that accompanied a simple listening session... a special request direct from the USDA to the KY state police.

He was stunned at the USDA's behavior. Trying to intimidate farmers and homesteaders over their desire to stop an intrusive, privacy violating, big player helping power grab.

And Wendell made it clear to the USDA, he would go to jail before complying.

He set the example for every else in the room.

He emphasized not just the need, but the rightness and duty of civil disobedience to tyrants and those bent on destroying the food and farming system, one farmer, one rule, one regulation at a time.

There were lines in the sand, and if the USDA said cross them, he wouldn't.

Not under any amounts of threats, fines, or jail time.

He sent a message to the USDA that wasn't soon forgotten.

For sixteen years his words have been my motto, duty no matter the cost.

And it is still the best and most practical way to protect our food, our farmers, and our freedoms.

RFC TX TICKETS

PS...

Remember, you have a few more weeks to get a discount on RFC Tickets.

At RFC TX, stopping animal ID and similar programs will be a key focus, and for a limited time you can get $10 off a Saturday or Friday/Saturday ticket with code RFCTX10.

So go rogue, join us in TX, and help us stop the gov't snooping on every farmer, homesteader, and animal keeper in the US...

John and Joel