As a proud, hardworking, independent farmer with experience growing a variety of livestock and produce over the years, we were interested in a business that could provide a supplemental income through our retirement years. The integrator’s presentation made it seem like the perfect plan—but it couldn’t have been more perfectly wrong!

It wasn’t so much what they did tell us, but all of the things they didn’t tell us, that pushed us down a path which nearly bankrupted us. Once we were able to crawl away from the atrocities of the CAFO system, we began the process of converting the chicken houses to greenhouses. It’s been a long, difficult road, but we are so thankful to have transitioned to a cleaner life on the farm and hope to increase the business and sustainability of the farm.

For a small independent farmer with only two poultry houses, we didn’t think canceling our contract would make any difference to the billion-dollar industry, but I believe if enough independent farmers like us are able to walk away from them, it will eventually have an impact on the industry. Farmers are hardworking folks and are stronger in numbers, and hopefully, as we band together, we can draw attention to the unjust treatment by CAFOs and help pave the way for others to follow.