Joined May 2009
1,166 Posts | 0+
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
I really appreciate the support from some of you on here and the kind words from Mike and Matthew. I also appreciate the literally hundreds of calls I have recieved.
Thanks
Will
Thanks
Will
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
I know I am in the process of selling out our entire herd and should probably stay the heck out of this discussion. I don't even know how I ended up reading any of it to be honest since I have not followed any threads on here in weeks. But I have always been active and vocal with my opinions over the years so I might as well go out the same way.
First let me say that our liquidation of our farm has NOTHING to do with my projections for the industry. I have been asked that question in emails and phone calls over the last few days. Rest easy as I think the industry is as strong as ever despite the soft markets the last couple of years. Our reasons for selling are personal.
I have always been and will forever be in favor of open borders in all states. But each state has its own specific and unique challenges inside its own borders.
WI deals with the distinct pleasure of having been the first state east of the Mississippi River to have CWD "discovered" inside it's borders. But what the rest of the country (deer growers AND state dept heads) fail to realize is that WI has one of if not the toughest set of laws on the books. Farms in WI have been and continue to be the subject of the most highly scrutinized investigations ever. Deer growers have been likened to be on the same level as highly organized crime leaders. And if our own state hasn't been hard enough on us other states have used non-science based steps to control and destory our markets in others parts of the country.
MI has it's own issues with having TB in the wild cervid herd.
IN has it's TB issues both in the wild and in farmed cervids.
MN has its TB and CWD issues both inside and outside the fences.
IL has its CWD areas in the state.
And the list goes on and on. No state is clean from its own issues and silly non-science based rules and laws that cause headaches to the growers of the state.
Each state therefore has its own set of building blocks that have to be maintained and if those building blocks at any time become bumped it can lead to larger issues inside the borders. Those issues can lead to issues in other states as well. Negative issues spread like wild fire while positive issues barely crawl across the landscape. If the wrong issue was to pop up in a state it could lead to a degradation of rules and laws in neighboring states.
I am not familiar with the inner workings of the state of Alabama so I am not able to speak to their issues directly. But what I will say is that I know Will very well. I know what is in his heart, and I know what is on his mind for the future of the deer industry. It is my STRONG belief that he not only has the best interest of the state of Alabama in mind but the best interest of the entire industry across the entire country.
If Will feels that the inner workings of the state of Alabama are best kept intact by keeping the borders closed at this time then I trust his judgment on the issue and would support him.
I read what Will said and no where in there did I see where he says he wants the borders kept closed for good. He instead says he is in favor of "opening new states" which would be creating new markets and adding strength to our numbers for a larger voice across the country. A larger voice is what this tiny little industry needs. Despite the amount of money generated each year by the cervid industry the fact is we are a pimple on the back side of an elephant's butt in terms of other industries. We need a larger and stronger voice. Adding more states and therefore more growers will help with this cause.
It is important for each state to have a strong voice inside its own borders. But where the real strength to accomplish things comes is when we have a larger voice in Washington D.C. That is done by bringing into the fold more states.
I have rambled enough, and as I said I should have just minded my own business on this and all topics.
"An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions"
First let me say that our liquidation of our farm has NOTHING to do with my projections for the industry. I have been asked that question in emails and phone calls over the last few days. Rest easy as I think the industry is as strong as ever despite the soft markets the last couple of years. Our reasons for selling are personal.
I have always been and will forever be in favor of open borders in all states. But each state has its own specific and unique challenges inside its own borders.
WI deals with the distinct pleasure of having been the first state east of the Mississippi River to have CWD "discovered" inside it's borders. But what the rest of the country (deer growers AND state dept heads) fail to realize is that WI has one of if not the toughest set of laws on the books. Farms in WI have been and continue to be the subject of the most highly scrutinized investigations ever. Deer growers have been likened to be on the same level as highly organized crime leaders. And if our own state hasn't been hard enough on us other states have used non-science based steps to control and destory our markets in others parts of the country.
MI has it's own issues with having TB in the wild cervid herd.
IN has it's TB issues both in the wild and in farmed cervids.
MN has its TB and CWD issues both inside and outside the fences.
IL has its CWD areas in the state.
And the list goes on and on. No state is clean from its own issues and silly non-science based rules and laws that cause headaches to the growers of the state.
Each state therefore has its own set of building blocks that have to be maintained and if those building blocks at any time become bumped it can lead to larger issues inside the borders. Those issues can lead to issues in other states as well. Negative issues spread like wild fire while positive issues barely crawl across the landscape. If the wrong issue was to pop up in a state it could lead to a degradation of rules and laws in neighboring states.
I am not familiar with the inner workings of the state of Alabama so I am not able to speak to their issues directly. But what I will say is that I know Will very well. I know what is in his heart, and I know what is on his mind for the future of the deer industry. It is my STRONG belief that he not only has the best interest of the state of Alabama in mind but the best interest of the entire industry across the entire country.
If Will feels that the inner workings of the state of Alabama are best kept intact by keeping the borders closed at this time then I trust his judgment on the issue and would support him.
I read what Will said and no where in there did I see where he says he wants the borders kept closed for good. He instead says he is in favor of "opening new states" which would be creating new markets and adding strength to our numbers for a larger voice across the country. A larger voice is what this tiny little industry needs. Despite the amount of money generated each year by the cervid industry the fact is we are a pimple on the back side of an elephant's butt in terms of other industries. We need a larger and stronger voice. Adding more states and therefore more growers will help with this cause.
It is important for each state to have a strong voice inside its own borders. But where the real strength to accomplish things comes is when we have a larger voice in Washington D.C. That is done by bringing into the fold more states.
I have rambled enough, and as I said I should have just minded my own business on this and all topics.
"An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions"
Well said Roger.
You will be missed.
Will I have never had the pleasure to meet you as I am a fairly new deer farmer, but I have read enough and heard enough about you to know you are fully supportive of the industry. Thank you for your support and helpfulness in a wonderful and growing industry.
You will be missed.
Will I have never had the pleasure to meet you as I am a fairly new deer farmer, but I have read enough and heard enough about you to know you are fully supportive of the industry. Thank you for your support and helpfulness in a wonderful and growing industry.
