Category: Amish/Mennonite/Anabaptist

Government Regulators Are Coming for the Amish Farmer Again

VICTORIA TAFT | 8:07 PM ON JANUARY 05, 2024
SEE: https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2024/01/05/amish-farmer-is-raided-by-feds-n4925258; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes: 
AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma
Amos Miller is an Amish dairy and meat producer in Lancaster County, Pa. He's been hassled by the state in past, and on Thursday state food authorities "illegally" raided his quiet farm and took away 37 boxes filled with his products. Amos reportedly hadn't filed the proper signed documents in abeyance to the state health and safety regulators. 

What's the real story here? 

Amos Miller offers his organically grown and chemical-free cheeses, meats, raw milk, and eggs through a private club. His products are not sold in stores. His private club is thriving, thanks in part to the cheerleading of his attorney Robert Barnes who often urges people to sign up to Amos's club to get clean, organic, and fresh products. 

Miller has been on the state regulators' radar for the past few years. Seven years ago, a smattering of his products had been cited for contamination. Miller's supporters say this is a steady pressure campaign by state and federal regulators to put him out of business. 

The Acting Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Food Safety swore out an affidavit which was used to get a search warrant. Barnes says that "the state unlawfully obtained a search warrant, based on materially false statements in an affidavit." He said the acting director has a "known grievance against independent farmers like Amos, and, after the raid and finding no evidence of wrongdoing, then illegally ordered detained every item of food in one of Amos Miller’s coolers, including buffalo meat not even subject to federal regulation."

Barnes said that the state "without notice, raided Amos’ farm, and detained everything Amos had in the farm’s freezer. They did so in a lawless manner, without appropriate authority, in violation of their own rules and regulations, despite never objecting to the prior resolutions reached with the federal government, and despite a complete failure by the state to even reach out to Amos’ known counsel." 

Barnes said the raiders broke the law because they ignored "the state’s own rules require advance notice, reasonable time frames for inspections, and a showing of credentials, none of which occurred here." Indeed, he says taking Miller's products was "patently illegal under Pennsylvania law." 

The Lancaster Patriot local newspaper says the affidavit was done at the behest of "the [acting director] NY state Department of Health [which...] confirmed positive case of a foodborne pathogen (STEC – Shiga toxin producing E. Coli) in an underage individual.” 

The affidavit claims that Miller has not completed the application process through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for “registration, licensing, or permitting under the pertinent Retail Food Facility Safety Act, Food Safety Act, or Milk Sanitation Laws.”

That sent even Donald Trump, Jr. into fits. 

There is an indisputable rush in this country – especially during and after COVID-19 – to eat cleaner, grass-fed, food products without drugs. Getting this food is often done with subscriptions to farms. This is what Amos and many other farmers do for a nation of people who want cleaner food. In fact, I'm currently looking for a meat supplier to go with my home-grown organic vegetables and legumes. 

People can't help but wonder if there's a pressure campaign against these farmers to control the food supply.

In the video below a reporter asks, "If we don't have the freedom to decide what to put into our own mouths to nourish ourselves and our children, what freedom do we have left that means anything?" He adds, "How much confidence do you have in the U.S. track record for responsibility, for precision, for competence, and then ask yourself 'is this the body you want making the decisions for what you eat and what your children eat?"

These are excellent questions. I would add, however, that basic regulations can be good and necessary things, but as a liberty lover, this attack on the organic farmer in Amish country is getting heavy-handed, to say the least, and, if Barnes is right, illegal. 

I say this as a person who knew and grieved with a family who lost a child due to the cavalier defiance of food safety laws at a fast food restaurant. And I say this as the mother of two daughters who actively seek out cleaner food for their families. 

Big Food isn't always the answer, you know. 

Well, you know the drill. We'll probably be censored on some platforms for bringing you this story. We're fighting for America but the president's censors are trying to shut us down. Please support our journalism by becoming a VIP or VIP GOLD Member. 

“Mennonites Pass Resolution Repenting of Excluding Homosexuals”

BY WAY OF LIFE NEWS

SEE: https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2022/newsletter20220912.htm;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

LTRP Note: The following is posted for informational and research purposes.

By Way of Life News

At their annual assembly this summer, the Mennonite Church USA passed two resolutions on the issue of accepting unrepentant homosexuals as members. The “Resolution for Repentance and Transformation,” repenting of harm done to LGBTQ people and calling for broader inclusion, passed by a majority of 55.7% (“MC USA Delegate Assembly widens the circle for LGBTQ people,” Mennoniteusa.org, June 1, 2022). An “organization resolution” updated the membership guidelines so that pastors are no longer prohibited from performing “same-sex covenant ceremonies.” That one passed by a majority of 82.8%.

The Mennonites trace their roots to the Anabaptists of Europe and to Menno Simons (1492-1561) in particular. Beginning in the 17th century, large numbers of Mennonites settled in America and Canada. They are divided into about 40 groups, some more conservative than others. The Mennonite Church USA is the largest group with about 530 congregations and is the most “liberal,” meaning apostate, in that they follow man’s thinking rather than God’s Word. (In May 2022, the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, with its 180 congregations, separated from the Mennonite Church USA for its changing views on homosexuality.) There are several conservative, separatist Mennonite groups, including Biblical Mennonite Alliance, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, and Ohio Wisler Mennonite. There are also small numbers of “old order” Mennonites that are similar to Amish, traveling in horse and buggy and practicing plain dressing and shunning. (source)

Pennsylvania Amish organic farmer faces hefty fine, jail time for producing CLEAN MEAT

Image: Amish organic farmer faces hefty fine, jail time for producing CLEAN MEAT

BY RAMON TOMEY

SEE: https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-05-01-farmer-faces-fines-jail-producing-clean-meat.html;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

(Natural News) An Amish organic farmer is facing a hefty fine and a prison term for the simple crime of producing clean meat.

Amos Miller runs a holistically managed farm in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where he breeds cows, chickens, and pigs. The animals in his century-old farm are bred without the use of chemicals and medications mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to Miller, he raises his animals in the way he believes God intended them to be raised – in accordance with nature.

However, a federal judge ordered the Amish farmer to cease and desist all sales of his organic meat. This same magistrate also ordered Miller to pay $250,000 for “contempt of court” last summer. He added that the farmer needs to pay an initial $50,000 as a “good faith” payment to avoid jail.

To make matters worse, armed U.S. marshals raided his property, farm store, and freezers at the behest of the federal judge. They took an inventory of all his meat to ensure he will no longer be able to sell or slaughter any more animals. (Related: Small town business owner spent 7 years building up organic meat company, only to be shut down by village board.)

Miller, who runs a private members-only food distribution network, alleged that the federal government is prosecuting him for practicing his religious freedom in the way he raises and prepares food. “Our members don’t want any of that. They want fresh, raw meat with no additives. Our members want it straight from the farm with no preservatives on it.”

The members of Miller’s private food club agree, saying they do not like their grass-fed meat laced with chemical preservatives mandated by the USDA. Numbering around 400, they have also signed contracts that state their awareness of the meat not being processed in USDA-inspected plants or treated with preservatives.

USDA prefers people eat chemicals instead of clean foods

According to Miller, all USDA-licensed processing plants are required to treat all meat – regardless of whether they are organic or grass-fed – with synthetic preservatives.

“Often, they use citric acid, which you’d think comes from oranges or lemons. But it’s a modified substance made from corn, and they don’t even have to label it on the meat,” he explained.

A customer who handles the Amish farmer’s website and other modern communications concurred with him, saying: “The USDA processing plants require the meat to be treated with a chemical cocktail of citric acid, lactic acid, and peracetic acid. The peracetic acid is toxic, and the citric and lactic [acids] are GMO.”

Anke, another customer of Miller, pointed out that the lactic acid used to preserve meat is not a natural version. “It’s not lactic acid coming from the fermentation of sauerkraut. It’s all created in a dish in a lab,” she said. “It’s a synthetic sterilizer that causes many health problems.”

According to Miller, he and other small farmers would still be nearly impossible to make a profit – thanks to giant meat companies acting as middlemen. Furthermore, the exorbitant costs of obtaining a USDA meat processing license make matters worse.

The Amish farmer lamented: “The rules and regulations are such that you have to get into [a] $100,000 debt before you ever sell your first pound of meat – and the market’s not guaranteed. There’s no option for farmers to start small, and add on and buy equipment as they can.”

“[We have to] either get a license or go out of business. Our position is we’d rather go out of business because their rules and regulations are too hard to follow. We have many small farmers in our area that would love to be farmers, but the business has gotten so monopolized.”

Anke agreed with Miller, saying that ultimately, “it’s all about profit and money.” She added: “They want a monopoly on beef, pork, and poultry. They are basically saying ‘Unless you go through federal inspection, you are making people sick.'”

CleanFoodWatch.com has more stories about Miller and other small farmers being prosecuted for offering clean, chemical-free meat.

Watch this video explaining what the USDA’s “certified organic” label really means.

This video is from the Corruption Exposure channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

America’s poultry giants have sold tens of thousands of meat products contaminated with DEADLY BACTERIA.

BOMBSHELL: USDA turns a blind eye to meat supply contaminated with banned pharmaceutical drugs.

Organic Trade Association sues the USDA for refusing to enforce its own organic livestock standards.

Factory-farmed meat more likely to be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria – study.

Trade group warns government against meddling in the meat industry.

Sources include:

OurOrganicWellness.com

Brighteon.com

3 more hostages OUT OF 17 released in Haiti, Christian aid group says~TERRORIST GANG WANTS $17 MILLION RANSOM

Missionaries pray for Haiti captives, kidnappers

SEE: https://christianaidministries.org/updates/haiti-staff-abduction/

(18 Oct 2021) A missionary worker who has met with the families of those kidnapped in Haiti says they pray for both the captives and the kidnappers. At the Christian Aid Ministry in Berlin, Ohio, missionary Tirtzah Rarick visited with family members of the kidnapped. She spoke to reporters afterward. American officials are working with Haitian authorities to try to secure the release of the 12 adults and five children connected with the Ohio-based mission, who were abducted over the weekend by a gang notorious for killings, kidnappings and extortion. Police say the group was snatched Saturday by the 400 Mawozo gang in an area east of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Christian Aid Ministries said the kidnapped group included seven women, five men and five children, including a 2-year-old. The organization said they were taken while on a trip to visit an orphanage.

Haiti gang leader threatens to kill kidnapped missionaries

Haitian gang demands $17 million in ransom for abducted missionaries

The "400 Mawozo" gang in Haiti is demanding $1 million for each of the 17 missionaries it has abducted. The group was kidnapped last weekend just outside of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Gang activity has been on the rise following the assassination of the country's president in July. Robert Fatton, Jr. is the Julia A. Cooper professor of government and foreign affairs at the University of Virginia. He joins CBSN's Elaine Quijano to discuss.

BY CNN

SEE: https://americanfaith.com/3-more-hostages-released-in-haiti-christian-aid-group-says/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Three more members of a group of 17 hostages kidnapped in Haiti in October were released Sunday night, according to a statement from the US-based Christian Aid Ministries.

“We are thankful to God that three more hostages were released last night. Those who were released are safe and seem to be in good spirits. As with the previous release, we are not able to provide the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any other details,” the statement said.

A young American child and their American mother were among the three missionary hostages released Sunday, according to a US official familiar with the matter.

The State Department welcomed the reports of their release.

“We welcome reports that three individuals held hostage in Haiti have been released. Due to operational and security considerations, we have no further comment,” a State Department spokesperson said. 

Members of the group of 16 Americans and one Canadian had been working as missionaries when they were kidnapped by the Haitian gang 400 Mawozo while traveling by car northeast of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on October 16. 

The hostages included an infant, a 3-year-old, and a 6-year-old, as well as two young teenagers. All hail from Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptist communities across six US states and Ontario. 

Two other hostages were released last month. Twelve of the 17 kidnapped remain in captivity.

No details on whether or not ransoms have been paid have yet emerged. The captors had demanded $1 million per hostage, Haitian Justice and Interior Minister Liszt Quitel previously told CNN.

Kidnappings for ransom in Haiti are widespread and often indiscriminate, targeting rich and poor, young and old. 

Rising crime has accompanied political instability in the country, with kidnappings spiking in the months after the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise, according to local human rights organization CARDH. 

The 400 Mawozo group is particularly notorious for group kidnappings.

COVID Among the Amish

BY SHARYL ATTKISSON

SEE: https://thevaccinereaction.org/2021/10/covid-among-the-amish/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania… thousands of families lead lives largely separate from modern America. The Amish are a Christian group that emphasizes the virtuous over the superficial. They don’t usually drive, use electricity or have TVs. And during the COVID-19 outbreak, they became subjects in a massive social and medical experiment. … So it’s safe to say there was a whole different approach here, in this community, when coronavirus broke out than many other places.

INDIANA: ROBBERS SHOOT MENNONITE COUPLE FIXING WORK TRAILER, KILLING MOTHER OF FOUR; FATHER’S JAW INJURED

BY HEATHER CLARK

SEE: https://christiannews.net/2020/09/23/robbers-shoot-mennonite-couple-fixing-work-trailer-killing-mother-of-four/; 

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Mennonite community in Greene County, Indiana is grieving after a mother of four was killed by robbers on Thursday as her husband was fixing issues with their work trailer.

Jonathan and Wilma Hochstetler ran J&W Commercial Roofing in Bloomfield. While Jonathan was on a job site on Wednesday evening, a tire on the couple’s trailer blew out.

Jonathan had a crew member drive his truck home to his wife, who in turn drove over an hour to Indianapolis to bring him a spare tire. The couple’s six-year-old son rode along.

By the time the tire was changed, it was after midnight, and Hochstetler noticed that the lights on the trailer weren’t working either.

While looking into the apparent wiring issue, two armed men approached the couple and demanded their money. They also took Wilma’s cell phone.

The men seemed to walk away without issue after taking what they wanted, but according to Sam Hochstetler, Jonathan’s father, “[a]ll of a sudden, they just turned and shot.”

According to the Indianapolis Star, Wilma Hochstetler died on the scene. Her husband was shot in the neck. He walked over to the vehicle, where their young son handed off Jonathan Hochstetler’s cell phone to call 911.

Hochstetler was transported to a local hospital where it was found that he suffered broken bones in the jaw and neck. While able to speak, he is currently obtaining nourishment via a feeding tube.

The couple was to have celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary next month. They both grew up Amish and were “childhood sweethearts,” reports state.

The family is also dealing with the difficult task of explaining to the Hochstetler’s six-year-old son, who witnessed the incident, that their mother isn’t coming back home.

The funeral service for Wilma Hochstetler is scheduled for Saturday at Elnora Bible Institute with visitation on Friday.

“Wilma had a tremendous love for the Lord and enjoyed teaching her children the Bible and of His works,” the obituary for the 40-year-old mother of four reads. “She enjoyed music, spending time with her family and helping other people.”

Sam Hochstetler told the Indianapolis Star that his son holds no animosity toward the attackers, finding God’s peace in the middle of the storm.

“We just sense the grace of God and the prayers of friends,” he said. “Jonathan’s testimony this afternoon is, ‘I have peace. I’m calm. I’m not angry. I’m not bitter.’ He said, ‘I may struggle with it later, but currently, I have total peace.’ He’s just trusting the Lord to take him through.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs of Wilma’s funeral and Jonathan’s recovery. As of press time, more than $171K had been raised for the family out of the $250K goal.