" When he gets going, there's something of the rebel in him. His words are fired with the passion of the political activist. 'Our bodies make 300 million new cells every 60 seconds so we determine our health by what we eat.'"

Choice.

The marvel of language is that such a diminutive word as 'choice' represents the foundation upon which a nation was built. The very concept of liberty is wrapped up in the simple idea that where choice exists, freedom reigns. As we are all born free, it is natural to desire choice in all things, from the lives we live, to the faith we profess and even to the food we eat.

On this latter point, consumers increasingly find themselves at odds with a global food industry that seeks to redefine and control the choices of billions of people. In the U.S., this industry is aided in its efforts by various factions of our federal and state government. Their weapon is a bloated bureaucracy of regulations wielded by an army of small-minded bureaucrats. This fourth branch of government operates without checks and balances with little accountability for its actions.

The irony is that this same government that toils in the service of industry against the will of the people was itself, founded by a small group of citizen farmers over 200 years ago. Along with life and liberty, they sought and fought for the freedom to produce, trade and consume the foods of their choice. The battle for choice rages still, in the halls of congress and in the hills of rural America. This is one story about one farmer and his fight with the state to preserve your choice about what you and your family eat.

A prodigal son returns to the farm
Dennis Stoltzfoos slips the clutch in his battered yellow pickup truck which spasms and groans in response. A dinosaur of automotive engineering, the truck picks up speed as it heads north on Florida's Interstate 75. Dennis is a tall thin man, just south of 40 years, with an angular build and large hands suitable for the honest labor of farm life. A husband and father of two, he is the typical family man with a mortgage and mouths to feed. With just an inch or two of clearance between the roof of the cab and the top of his head, he leans forward a bit, keeping his eyes on the road.

An hour or so earlier, we made our way past cookie-cutter subdivisions that gave way to the commercial sprawl of fast food outlets, middle-fare restaurants and shopping malls. In time our view and our psyches were relieved of this clutter, as we drove further into the upcountry of Northern Florida. One does not immediately think of farms when considering Florida--beaches, bikinis and hurricanes maybe, but not farms. And yet, here we were amid the familiar rolling acreage of field, forest and pasture.

Stoltzfoos is a dairyman, who for a number of months in 2005, was under siege by Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). They didn't like the idea that he was selling raw milk directly to the consumer. They had threatened to shut him down, had tried to, but he was like the bacteria that lurks in the bulk tank of a conventional dairy--tenacious and unrelenting--neither Stoltzfoos nor his customers would be denied.

Stoltzfoos was born into the farming life as the 11th child in an Amish/Mennonite family. He gave up that life at the age of twenty. For a few years, he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician, but personal health problems eventually interrupted his plans. Along the way, he discovered the Weston A. Price Foundation which reinforced in him, the wisdom of eating traditional, whole foods. He returned to the farming life after 15 years with the realization that feeding the body good food was the most direct route to better health.

When he gets going, there's something of the rebel in him. His words are fired with the passion of the political activist. "Our bodies make 300 million new cells every 60 seconds so we determine our health by what we eat. And we cannot eat junk, take some good vitamins and live healthy lives. I wanted to get my clients on healthy food but was NOT finding it." He holds little admiration for organic foods, noting that "Every farm I saw was reaching for some low standard like 'certified organic'. Nobody I met was producing food with a 'spare no expense' attitude."

It was this desire to produce the best food possible and a belief in the value of raw dairy from grass-fed cows that put Stoltzfoos squarely in the sights of a vindictive campaign by the State of Florida.

Home on the range
It was well over a five-hour trip from southern Florida. As we bumped along the treacherous dirt road that leads onto the farm, I could see nothing. It was February and brittle-bone cold outside, but Stoltzfoos, like a blind man in his own kitchen, maneuvered the truck as if it was broad daylight. He knew this land, every stump and bump, perhaps as well as he knew his own mind.

Full Circle Farm is located in Live Oak Florida on 100 acres of field and pasture outlined with weathered fencing and dotted with rolled bales of hay. In the light of a new day, one can see that here and there, the land slopes up and down again. Somewhere beyond my view grazed a small herd of cows and a flock of chickens. A small two story barn perches on a concrete slab not far beyond the house. The land is partitioned into different pastures with a series of gates connecting them, allowing Stoltzfoos to move the cows from pasture to pasture as conditions warrant.

Attack of the state
Not far from the house lies a stand of majestic oaks, which cover about half a dozen acres. Closer to the house, a kitchen garden lies a short distance away, alive with winter rye which serves as a cover crop to fertilize the soil. A child's swing set, stands forlorn beneath a large oak, halfway between the house and the barn. It is a poignant scene that could have been painted by Norman Rockwell, but the peace that exists on this cold day in February was shattered on June 30th, 2005 when three men showed up at the farm.

They were, as Stoltzfoos remembers, "The local milk inspector, the local division of food safety guy and the BIG guy with the gun." Most Americans have never experienced the intimidation of an unannounced visit from state inspectors accompanied by an armed enforcer, but in Florida this appears to be business as usual. The men were deceptively cordial at first. The milk inspector held a print out of the Full Circle Farm web site and inquired about sales of raw milk, but Stoltzfoos corrected him, noting that the only milk available was 'bath milk' for which donations were accepted.

The G-Men shifted their stance and began questioning Stoltzfoos about his daily operations, how he made a living, etc. The mood had grown darker by now with Stoltzfoos having little doubt about which way the wind was blowing. He felt compelled to comment on the irony of the situation where possession of raw milk was being treated as if it was cocaine. By now, the armed G-Man, apparently frustrated at the dim prospects for gunplay, stormed off to the car and was quickly followed by the other two men. Stoltzfoos thought this was the last he would see of these men. He was wrong.

G-Men Reloaded: Revenge of the state
One week later, the 3 G-Men returned with some associates. There were 6 in all, including a woman from the USDA and a Ph.D. from the Division of Food safety in Tallahassee. The only thing missing was the ATF. This visit seemed more like a raid as the group turned the barn upside down. They interrogated Stoltzfoos for over an hour then went through all the freezers. They sealed three of the freezers with official bright blue government tape and issued a stop use/sale order on the farm.

The harassment continued on a weekly basis and required the Stoltzfoos family to get permission from the sate to retrieve food from their own freezer for their own consumption. The state ordered them to apply for a food license which would have cost tens of thousands of dollars and it was clear that the state had no intention of making the process an easy one, so they refused. Fines were assessed by the state, followed by a charge of being 'denied access' to the farm to conduct an inspection. Upon investigation of the charge, it was determined that this was an error and that no such denial occured.

As the fines for 'operating without a food license' continued to mount, Stoltzfoos applied for and received a pet food license. In mid August, when inspectors showed up, Stoltzfoos inquired about what it would take to have his freezers unsealed. The inspector replied, "a food license", at which point Stoltzfoos produced his newly acquired pet food license. The inspector, dumbfounded and unable to make a decision on his own, left the farm without action.

Taking it to the street
An administrative hearing was scheduled where there was little doubt about the outcome for Stoltzfoos and his lawyer, so they decided it was time to try a different tack. They went to the media. In short order, a splash of articles, recounting the persecution of the Stoltzfoos family, began to hit the papers like wet cow pies on hot pavement. Readers were appalled that the state was using the citizen's tax dollars to bludgeon a farmer, his wife and their two kids, all for the crime of providing milk to customers who desperately wanted it. The state folded and agreed to an out of court settlement meeting. They set aside 90 minutes for the meeting, but it was over in 10.

In a last effort to save face, the state requested some portion of the fines assessed against the farm. Stoltzfoos was dead set against it at first, but eventually reached an agreement with the state. He was required to take down his web site and agree to ongoing inspections in 2006, but otherwise, he would be left alone.

The power of real food
Stoltzfoos believes the food you eat can prevent cancer, heart disease, strokes, osteoporosis, etc. In 1997, he was stunned by research showing the health benefits of grass fed meats vs. grain fed. He found that grass fed meat can be up to 10 times more nutritious and teaches this and other concepts in seminars that he conducts. He says it is important to know where your food comes from. That connection with your food and the people who produce it, builds strong bodies and stronger communities. Today Dennis Stoltzfoos and his family, including a new baby, are free to pursue the life, liberty and happiness that the founding farmers intended for every American.

BreadandMoney is providing the information below, as well as the sidebar information as part of our ongoing Free Speech for Food initiative.

ITEMS	DONATION
Cleopatra s Bath milk	$13/gal
Cleo s bath cream	$16/qu
Yommy yogurt	$5/qu
Cleo s bath butter	$12/lb.
Goat white gold	$10 per half gal
Cheese: Jack, Cheddar, Baby Swiss	$8/lb, $10/lb cut
Whey	$5/qu
Colo (frozen)	$5/qt, $9/half gallon, $16/gallon
Whole Chicken and Turkeys, hearts and livers, feet	$4.00/lb
Eggs	$6/doz, $5.50/10 or more
Wild caught Salmon	$12/lb
Homemade Saur Kraut	$5/qt
Home grown picked beets	$10/qt
Cod Liver Oil--www.greenpasture.org	$20 or $15 for 2+
Butter oil--www.greenpasture.org	$55/8oz
Beef hamburger	5/lb.,Steaks 10/lb., roasts 6/lb., ask about 1/4, half, and whole pricing
Bologna, sliced in 1 lb vaccum paks	$8/lb
Pork	$6/lb- bacon 10/lb also half and whole
Lamb in fall	Whole only
Kombucha Tea	$5/qt
Ginger beer	$2.50 bottle
Maple Syrup	$50/gal
Agave (Excellent low glycemic sweetener)	$15 8oz
Lard, tallow and Broth (chicken or beef)	$12/qt
Toothpaste (All natural, sugar free)	$8/tube
Dandy Blend, coffee substitute/ice cream flavoring	$10/ 5 oz./$15 8 oz.
Coconut oil, refined for 20/qu--Virgin	$35/ 1/2 gal
Fertrell Products for lawn and garden	ask for catalog
Book: Nourishing Traditions	$25
Book: Nutrition and Physical Degeneration	$25
Magazines: Wise Traditions--back issues	$7
We have an extensive lending library...

Full Circle Farm: Beef Prices: Quarters are 3.25 a lb. Halves 3.00 a lb. And whole beeves are 2.75 a lb. They source the beef then deliver to their butcher. The butcher cuts and wraps to the customer's specification and calls the customer when it is finished. THE CUSTOMER THEN PICKS UP THE ORDER and pays the cut and wrap fee to the butcher, which is 35 cents per lb. When Full Circle Farm (FCF) delivers the beeves to the butcher, they call the customer (in 2 to 3 days) with a "Hanging weight", and then they require the customer to put a check in the mail immediately. They will let you know how much, exactly, but here is an example. An animal weighs 600 lbs. (Hanging weight) so a quarter is 150 lbs. 150x3.25 is $487.50. In addition to that, the customer will be paying the 35-cent a lb. cut and wrap fee mentioned above, directly to the butcher at pick up. (150x.35 is 52.50) VERY IMPORTANT: The customer will take home about 75-100 lbs. of meat, not 150, due to shrinkage and fat and bones that are discarded. So they end up with 75-100 lbs. (approx.) of meat instead of the 150 lbs. they paid on. If you do not understand this, call FCF and they will explain. The time the beef is hung is from 15 to 20 days. This 'hanging' is done to tenderize the beef. So the customer will pick up their beef 2-4 weeks after they send a check to FCF. QUARTERS: If a customer buys a quarter, they do not get to specify how it is cut. They receive a 'generic' cut. A generic cut is good for a 2-person family. If the customer gets a half or more, they can specify exactly how they want it cut. The butcher will appreciate tips for strange requests. Most people who sell beef this way only sell whole beeves. FCF sells quarters because people very seldom buy only a quarter the second year. People tend to eat more beef when the quality is good. FCF likes it when 2 or more people go together to buy beef. For example if 2 or 4 people decide to share a whole beef to save money, that's good! All they ask is that the customers pool their resources and pay for their purchase with one check. One person in the buyers group should be assigned to be the contact person for the group. This avoids the problem of dealing with multiple people for the same order who may not always be communicating with each other. If customers do not want the organs and bones please let FCF know. DO NOT DISCARD THEM. Simply tell the butcher to give them to FCF. FCF beeves are all "grass-finished" zero grain is used. This provides more nutritious beef with tremendous flavor. This also insures that nothing GE or GMO is eaten by the animals. It also insures that other harmful effects of grain do not show up in the meat. This is good news for customers who may be allergic to gluten for example. According to www.eatwild.com these beeves will have up to 10 times more of some nutrients in them as well. This meat will not be acidic like grain fed meat is. True "grass finished" beef is only available in the spring and fall, Twice a year. And many years only in fall because rainfall is not sufficient for spring beef. FCF beeves are 100% hormone and antibiotic free. Customers can contact FCF with any questions. A $100.00 deposit is required per quarter when ordering beef, which is sold first come first served when ready. FCF will maintain a list and notify customers at slaughter time. To place an order, send a check Payable to Cypress Consultants: 20997 174th Street, Live Oak, FL, 32060. Resources for this article: westonaprice.org Dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense food to the human diet, including naturally-raised meat and whole milk products. eatwild.com Details the benefits of eating meat, eggs, and dairy products from pasture-raised animals. mercola.com Stay informed of all sides on the latest medical news & discover Dr. Joseph Mercola's health advice. realmilk.org Learn why there is a campaign supporting fresh, raw whole milk. FULL CIRCLE FARMS 20997 174th Street Live Oak, FL 32060 Tel. (386) 776-2770 thisisdennis@juno.com We do not ship. Make Checks payable to Cypress Consultants, 20997 174th Street Live Oak, FL 32060 Phone:386-776-2770 Our group discussion list for all news etc: http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/cypressconsultants or send e-mail to cypressconsultants- subscribe@yahoogroups.com DIRECTIONS FROM TAMPA: 75N to exit 399, north on 441 for 5 miles then suddenly 20/27 west goes off to the left, follow 27 west 41 miles into Mayo and take 51 north 5 miles to thru blinking yellow light, ½ mile take left on 174th street, go 1 and ½ miles (straight, don t turn left) to red roof house/black board fence on right. All goods sold as pet food as per FL law. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

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The information contained herein represents the sole opinion of the author and should not be construed as medical advice. Readers should consult with a knowledgeable medical care provider before beginning any new diet or exercise program.