Guest Editorial by Arden Tewksbury/Manager, Progressive Agriculture Organization 

 

10/4/2010
 
          Title:      IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEAK OUT?
 
Late on Wednesday night, September 22nd, Justin Fitch, hardworking son of Dave and Robin Fitch, from West Winfield, New York , made a routine trip to their barn to check on the milking herd.  As Justin entered the barn, he noticed someone running out the back of the building.  However, because of the darkness in the barn Justin could not identify the person.
 
A search of the barn by the family found no further evidence of the intruder.  The Fitches sorta concluded the intruder might have been a homeless person needing somewhere to spend the night. 
 
However, the event took a dramatic change two nights later when the Fitches were awakened by abnormal bawling of their cows down in the barn.  When the Fitches raced to the barn they found the building filled with smoke. 
 
They immediately found several places in the barn where fires had been started.  They also found the walls of the barn had been soaked with fuel oil.   David and Justin quickly sprung into action by extinguishing many of the fires.  Quick action by the local fire company (responding in 7 minutes) enabled all of the prestarted fires to be extinguished.
 
While the damage to the barn varied in different areas, overall the Fitches consider themselves very fortunate not to have lost their animals or their barn.
 
The Fitches wish to thank the local fire company and all of their neighbors for all their great help. 
 
Now the big question is:  Who was responsible for this cowardly act of arson?
 
Was it a grudge fire from someone in the neighborhood?  Very, very unlikely.
 
Was it some kids playing a prank on the Fitches?   Absolutely not.
 
Then who did commit the insane act?
 
We may never know.  However, we do know that Dave and Robin Fitch have been very critical of prices paid to all dairy farmers. 
 
They worked feverishly in 2009 to sponsor two well-attended meetings in West Winfield concerning the plight of all dairy farmers.  (Nearly 500 people attended these meetings.)
 
Recently they sponsored a meeting of dairy farmers at their farm.  The Fitches were the ones who called for a milk strike last July 4th.  Both Dave and Robin have written several letters to papers concerning the plight of dairy farmers.
 
Now that this fire was started by an arsonist, do you suppose this was an effort by some people to shut up the Fitches?
 
If this is true, and I think it is a strong possibility, then this is not going to work. 
 
The Fitches have no intention of being quiet and they are accelerating their efforts to obtain fair milk prices for dairy farmers.  
 
Oh, by the way, you know where Robin was during this melee? She was in New York City meeting with over 300 consumers in obtaining their support for dairy farmers.   They all agreed the Specter-Casey Bill S-1645 is the real solution to solving the dairy farmers financial crisis.  Now Mr. and Mrs. Dairy Farmers, how about joining up with the Fitches and the rest of us to help solve the financial plight of all dairy farmers!
 
In conclusion, what has happened to the Fitches sorta reminds me of several Congressmen who at one time claimed to support the Specter-Casey bill.  Why did they change their position?  Were they threatened in any way?
 
I hope they will take a lesson from the Fitches and show their backbone that is necessary to solve the dairy farmers plight.
 
Prog-Ag can be reached at 570-833-5776 or by email:    Progressiveagricultureorg@gmail.com