The Maude family of South Dakota was recently acquitted of criminal charges related to a fence line dispute with the US Forest Service. The Maudes were invited to DC to speak to the press along with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at a press conference hosted by the US Department of Agriculture.

“The prosecution of the Maudes should never have happened... it is a fire bell in the night. We must awaken to what it means that this appeal and recourse were even necessary at all,” Rollins said in a press conference following the release of criminal charges. "We are ending regulation by prosecution in America and investigating how and why this wrongful prosecution... ever occurred in the first place. We must ensure that our farmers and our ranchers have not and will not be targeted for living the American way of life."

Todd Fornstrom, Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) President, previously wrote a letter of support to Secretary Rollins and is pleased with the precedence the case will set for other ranching families fighting similar battles. 

“It’s critical for agencies to work with long-time permittees to resolve conflicts without dragging them into the judicial system. There needs to be clear, efficient, and appropriate avenues to remedy situations like this,” Fornstrom said. “WyFB policy opposes the abuse of power and overreach of any enforcement or investigative department of any US Executive Branch Agency, including USFS. WyFB also supports strict consequence of permanent ban of federal employment of any individual found guilty of abusing power and to be held responsible for any financial cost incurred.” 

“We are thankful to see this abuse of power by the federal government overturned,” said Kerin Clark, WyFB Executive Vice President. “The government overreach and abuse of power asserted against the Maude family should have never happened. The efforts by this administration to end regulation through prosecution in America are welcomed and necessary for American citizens.”

In addition, Rollins announced the launch of a reporting system for ranchers facing similar issues with government agencies. 

“"We are excited to announce this morning that USDA, right now at this moment, is launching a portal at USDA.gov for all American farmers, ranchers, and producers who are subject to the similar egregious lawfare from the Biden administration,” Rollins said. “We will work with our counterparts, including my great colleague, Secretary Kristi Noem, and others across the Trump government to address any other government overreach in situations like this."

“We applaud the announcement that efforts are in progress to find resolution to remedy situations like this to avoid regulation through prosecution and the wrongful targeting of hard-working American citizens,” Clark concluded.