WILLARDS, Md. — SaveFarmFamilies.org has added Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the Worcester County Farm Bureau and the Wicomico County Farm Bureau, all powerful voices for the agriculture community, to its effort to raise funds for the legal defense of the Hudson family farm. The Hudsons are involved in ongoing litigation originated by the Waterkeeper Alliance, a New York-based activist organization that seeks to use the courts to push their radical agenda.
"We are very pleased to join other agriculture leaders in support of SaveFarmFamilies.org to defend our family farms and to help raise money for the Hudson's legal defense," said DPI Executive Director Bill Satterfield. "It's a known fact that the Waterkeepers are determined to end animal agriculture in this country and the Hudsons appear to be collateral damage in their larger efforts. We need to highlight their tactics and put them on notice that we won't allow it to happen."
SaveFarmFamilies.org, which is raising awareness around the Waterkeepers' bankruptcy-by-litigation tactics, has released a video on SaveFarmFamilies.org to depict just how damaging misguided litigation can be for farm families like the Hudsons.
"The outcome of the Waterkeepers' litigation will impact not only the Hudson farm, but also will resonate with all family farmers, suppliers, and related businesses for years to come," said Lee Richardson, President of the Wicomico County Farm Bureau and SaveFarmFamilies.org member. "I think the SaveFarmFamilies.org video really puts the impact of this tragic situation involving the Hudsons into perspective and is necessary to show how the Waterkeepers' litigation could destroy family farming in America forever."
The video outlines the detrimental impact that the Waterkeeper litigation has had on everyday life for the Hudsons, including financial burdens caused by legal bills, stress-related medical bills, and frozen credit for their farming operation due to the lawsuit, which they have been engaged in since early 2010.
"This lawsuit has serious consequences for real people and we are so glad to welcome our new supporters," said Richardson. "We are going to make a stand against these radical groups who put their narrow agenda ahead of the facts, regardless of the consequences for the family farmer who works hard to put food on the table for the American consumer."
In addition to fundraising efforts through the website, SaveFarmFamilies.org is also proudly supporting a benefit dinner sponsored by the Worcester County Farm Bureau from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 1st at the Hooper's Crab House in West Ocean City, Md. The all-you-can-eat benefit is the third of its kind and is an effort to raise additional funds for the Hudson's mounting legal bills.
"We are so happy to host a dinner in the Hudsons' honor," said Daniel Holland, vice president of the Worcester County Farm Bureau and member of SaveFarmFamilies.org. "The farming community is a tight-knit group and we all understand the magnitude of this litigation — we will do everything it takes to make sure the Hudsons have the necessary resources to defend themselves against these out-of-town extremists."
To learn more about sustaining and defending family farms, visit www.savefarmfamilies.org to read more about the Hudsons and donate to their defense fund. The website also contains ticket information on the October 1st benefit dinner and hosts the Hudson video: http://tinyurl.com/3bvyx85 .
For more information visit: www.savefarmfamilies.org 'Like' SaveFarmFamilies.org on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/67hhaq8
About Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI)
DPI is the nonprofit trade association working for the continued progress of the broiler chicken industry in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In existence since 1948, DPI's members include nearly 1,100 farm families raising chickens, five poultry companies producing birds on Delmarva, and hundreds of poultry company employees, allied industry suppliers of products and services, and Delmarva-based, non-poultry businesses that recognize the important work DPI does to keep the local poultry industry strong.
About the Wicomico County Farm Bureau
The Wicomico County Farm Bureau is a member of the Maryland Farm Bureau. The mission of the organization is to represent all members in Wicomico County to encourage agriculture development in the region and support the Maryland Farm Bureau at the state level.
About the Worcester County Farm Bureau
The Worcester County Farm Bureau is a member of the Maryland Farm Bureau. The mission of the organization is to aid and encourage agriculture by developing and maintaining a membership organization to cooperate with the Maryland Farm Bureau. The Bureau meets regularly to discuss issues our farmers have in the county in order to take it to the state level.
Source: SaveFarmFamilies.org