To the editor,

Recently at the request of a friend and neighbor, I took a drive over to Highway CC about 2.5 miles from my home. It is a beautiful drive; rising out of the Rush River Valley I pass long horn cattle grazing in the sunlit fields, eagles fly overhead, the fall colors are magnificent, I enjoy the roller coaster that is 450th street.

As I approach CC I see a long manure covered semi tanker coming from the South, turning right toward Nugget Lake. I follow for a while then notice another semi coming toward me and see in my rear-view mirror another turning onto 450th. Shortly after passing Nugget Lake the road turns to gravel; the semi-trucks are kicking up so much dust that there is a white out condition. The semi in front of me pulls over to where liquid manure is being pumped into the ground, one truck has just pulled away. I encounter 14 such trucks on this gravel road over the course of 15 minutes.

I imagine it is my road. The dust, the noise and the stench, destroying the peace that typically fills all my life. I can hear the noise generated from this operation at my house, but it is muted.

I have many friends who live much closer who can no longer have a good night’s sleep due to the introduction of factory farming in our peaceful valley. With the sudden proliferation of factory farms in Wisconsin, specifically our region, we can all expect to lose what most of us hold dear. Peace, quiet, beautiful land and streams and an abundance of wildlife. A serenity that most never feel, free to us every single day.

I have never in my life had the sense of peace I experience here. We should not have to forfeit our way of life.

Kay Kashian

Ellsworth