Amish Amos Miller’s Mixed Messages
And new court filings...
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What is Miller’s convoluted case based on?
It’s no secret that I don’t think that Amos Miller’s national food aggregating operation spanning thousands of miles coast to coast, is NOT the answer to food security or agriculture policy in America. I’ve covered it here extensively. His court case is not likely to win as the courts look to facts, not sensationalism. So I’m pretty sure it’s not the hill to die on…
I am NOT arguing in favor or against any *particular* laws here. The point of bringing this up is to reflect on whether or not Miller’s methods work to bring about the goals that it seems more and more people are tuning in to: greater “food freedom.”
New court filings
If you’re confused about the facts of the multiple cases Miller has been involved in over the past 7 years, you’re not the only one.
The PA attorneys responsible for his most recent case seem to be confused about some of Miller’s recent filings also. As written in a recent brief to the court:
“Defendants’ Preliminary Objections and related brief are comprised of two elements – a barrage of facts that are not alleged in the Complaint, and a litany of conclusory statements of law that fail to provide any cogent argument.” (March 11, 2024 court filings page 1)
On February 13, 2024, it appears that Miller and his legal team filed a motion for dismissal of the case. (Note, this was before the February 29, 2024 court hearing about the injunctions where the judge ruled against lifting the injunction.)1
On March 11, 2024, the state Attorney General responded in their “Plantiffs’ Brief In Support Of Plaintiffs’ Preliminary Objections To Defendants’ Preliminary Objections” They note that,
“Defendants’ Preliminary Objections and Brief are overwhelmingly comprised of Unpled Facts. In fact, Defendants do not once cite to the factual averments in the Complaint, and most notably, attach to their Brief a five-page attorney Declaration with entirely new facts.” (March 11, 2024 court filings page 9, emphasis added)
It is difficult to understand what strategy Miller and his attorneys could possibly be employing in this situation. And what good they might think would come of it?
As the state attorney notes:
“There will always be demand for illegal products – in the absence of demand, there would be no market for or need to regulate the safety of products. Of course there is Consumer Demand for Defendants’ products, just as there is a market for unapproved medications, uninspected vehicles, and other consumer products that fail to meet regulatory safety standards. The existence of a market for illegal products – whether because of a belief in the quality of those products or simply because of cost savings – is immaterial to whether regulations can be enforced against a seller.” (March 11, 2024 court filings, page 11)
The brief continues:
“Moreover, the Barnes Verification falls so short of the requirements of 1024(c)(2) that it is “wholly defective.” Id. Accordingly, Defendants’ Preliminary Objections fail to conform to a Rule of Court and should be stricken and dismissed with prejudice.” (March 11, 2024 court filings, page 13, emphasis added)
Again, one begins to wonder what is the strategy? Is the above paragraph legalese for “WTH?”
Double standards and mixed messages
Perhaps Miller’s case is overly complicated because he is intentionally sending mixed messages?
Do double standards work to improve morale in any “community” whether a community of a few families or an entire nation of 350 million?
On the one hand, he seems to say that he believes the state has no right to interfere with his sales–hence standing on the basis of “food freedom” and “private sales.”
On the other hand, his most recent court filing seems to “request permission to sell his products outside of Pennsylvania.” (emphasis added) 2
If he truly believes the government has no jurisdiction or authority in the sales he is making, why would he revert on that principle and regress to asking permission to conduct his sales?
What would he hope to gain from that?
Many other farmers, including many ethical Amish farmers, have figured out how to follow the PA raw milk laws AND make a profit at their business. How do they feel about one farm having a unique business advantage that doesn’t apply to them?
Is Miller, in fact, operating on principles? Or was/is he looking for the most expedient way to grow his business revenue without any regard for setting or perpetuating a double standard that mistreated others in his community?
What happens when English farmers around him lose their business due to his choices? What happens to the vast number of “individual” Amish farmers that supplied his house of cards aggregation model?
Were aspiring and impressionable Amish farmers pressured to provide Miller with untested and uninspected products, with the threat of social ostracization if they did not?
Were Amish farmers around him convinced of non-existent “legal protection” if they followed Amos’ directions?
Again, these questions and statements are not advocating for or against any particular law, simply pointing out or questioning the peculiarities of Miller’s antics and arguments.
I am not claiming to know the answers to these questions. But they are important ones to ask. I would encourage “supporters” to investigate these claims independently–especially before donating to his plethora of fundraisers.
Perhaps the courts will ponder some of these questions in their next round of deliberations in the Amos Miller case.
Again–and to be clear–we have a process to change the laws in America. I believe in this process. And, when enough Americans want to see serious change in our approach to food security here, we will make changes. We have many tools available to us. Amos Miller’s case isn’t one of those tools.
Changing our food policy starts at home
But before we can make any serious change in our food policy, many more Americans must understand why we need to. And that, dear reader, is up to you. We must have these conversations around our dinner tables, at our children’s soccer games, and everywhere else we go.
The underlying importance only shifts when we give it the time, energy and attention it deserves.
It is us who must live and embody the principles of clean, healthy food from local sources. Not give up or give in when it gets difficult. We must do the work to shift the ideology of our country to once again embrace the neighbor-to-neighbor transactions for food and to be part of our food production once again.
Peaceful pursuit of food security is an inalienable right for every citizen in this imperfect, but still great nation.
Here are 22 ways to get started. Wherever you are, whoever you are, you are part of the ecosystem.
Creating Food Security
22 real ways to support a local, less regulated food system:
$1-50 range
Buy seeds and plant them in your yard, a friend's yard, anywhere you have access to. Just start. Don’t worry about being perfect.
Support apps like SAGE that help people come together to grow food.
Buy locally produced food from a farmer near you (you have no idea how much that purchase means to them!)
Take a gardening workshop or class.
Donate to a local non profit that provides support to farmers.
Donate to the FOR FARMERS movement that provides private mini grants to farmers.
Get involved politically to change your state and local regs.
If you’re part of an HOA, work to change those policies to allow for chickens, goats, bees or whatever else you want to grow.
$50-300 range
Take a permaculture course and learn more about the ecosystem where you live and eat.
Host your next event at a local farm (you have no idea how much that means to them!)
Donate to or help build garden beds for a local urban farm/garden.
Learn about food forests and apply what you learn locally.
Start to stock your freezer by sourcing from a meat farm near you.
Buy a bunch of books about gardening and farming so that if our communication networks go down, you still have the information.
Purchase (or graft) 1 or more fruit or nut trees and plant them.
$300-1000 range
Help fund a local organization’s campaign to change state or local regulations around food production.
Support a case that has a chance of winning.
Invest in shared infrastructure or land with others who have the same goals.
Support legitimate small farms kickstarters.
Donate more appreciably to movements like “For Farmers” or other private grant opportunities for farmers.
Spend more of your budget locally.
Invest in a permaculture design for your land and learn how to create year-round, edible crops.
$1000+
Get creative!
About Raw Milk Mama: I believe that we can reclaim our food systems through direct action. But it takes your participation whether you’re growing food, processing, or willing to support those who are. And sometimes, it takes taking direct action or calling on your state or federal elected officials.
I’m dedicated to helping people understand our food system and how we each fit into it.
I think that there "is more" that will come out about the AMISH period, as with all of the religions on this planet. Amos is part of a cult and it is a patriarchal cult, in which woman and children are used as breeders, I believe. Soon all will be disclosed and the truth will be known. This is not just about food but everyone needs to fight this, as we all eat and nutrition is our wealth. Participate in growing, cultivating and advocating for freedom, health and our sovereignty in the way you are passionately led. It is time, everyone, to stand up and join in if we wish to save humanity and the Earth and ALL LIFE for the children of the world.