Ag wars in Park County

I’ve had the pleasure of working in the cattle industry off and on for several years. I have been shocked more than once by anti-ag groups, and their tactics to put producers out of business, but every now and then, I am shocked by the tactics imposed on an individual in the industry, by the industry.

My introduction to Dr. Amy Mason, a veterinarian from Guffy, CO. came after I ran a press release from the Colo. Dept. of Ag (CDA), reporting that Mr. Vern Wagner was found guilty of animal cruelty. Mr. Wagner was the first to call me, a bit miffed, and rightfully so, that I hadn’t investigated it more before printing.

Mr. Wagner is a third generation rancher. After he shared this with me, I had to wonder if someone abusing their animals could stay in business that long. Common sense tells me probably not!

But the release came from CDA. It had to be good. It’s our elected, paid, government, in agriculture. They’re on ag’s side…right?  As I learn more and more about this case, I’m not so sure.

Dr. Amy met me, loaded with pictures, videos and information, that clearly sheds reasonable doubt on Mr. Wagner’s case. Actually – it was pretty black and white after hearing and seeing the details. Something went terribly wrong in Park County.

The photos, taken at several different times over the past 2 years, don’t show starving, neglected cattle. Well, at least not most of them. There are a series of pictures of overcrowded pens of cows and calves, calves that look unhealthy or ill lying in manure, scours, heavily molded hay, empty water troughs, 4 wheelers running cows, and a bull tangled in twine around his neck and legs. There are also videos of some of the above, including a video of a calf trying to get water out of the trough and another licking drops of water from a dripping water spicket, with several cows crowded around, and another of a calf appearing to have respiratory problems. And cows that looked as if they may have aborted calves, with blood and afterbirth hanging from them. Obviously, all could be considered potentially damaging in an animal cruelty case.

But, here’s the kicker, these pictures were taken after Mr. Wagner’s cattle were confiscated, by CDA. He actually had a restraining order on him, and was court ordered to stay away from them. Several of the calves died, while under CDA’s care, and Mr. Wagner had to pay the rendering fee.

So, as I’m listening to Dr. Amy, and earlier to Mr. Wagner, and others familiar with the case, the “why” question is haunting me, and I just can’t get my head wrapped around it. It seems as if it’s ag fighting ag.  

But there’s more to the story. It’s like a present-day, good old black and white western, where everyone is fighting over the land. Several years ago, Mr. Wagner started a grazing association. Within that association, there are thousands of acres, and he has the leases. The property owners get the benefit of paying ag property taxes. I’m betting the county doesn’t like that much – just a hunch. And then there are his state leases. Mr. Wagner isn’t a small time, 40-acre, hobby cattle man. There appears to be several parties that will benefit from his loss. A quick side note on this, apparently a BLM representative testified on Mr. Wagner’s behalf, saying he was a good land tenant and did not over graze. Hmmm…but yet his cattle were deemed malnourished and starved by CDA.

But there’s more…things that bring up the “why” again. Mr. Wagner’s cattle were confiscated in two different runs. In the first, the cattle were taken and the court order was for the sale of 379 animals. Two weeks after they took the animals that Mr. Wagner had allegedly abused, they ran them through the sale barn. The starving, malnourished cattle had a remarkable comeback in two short weeks. They sold the 379 court ordered, plus a few more that magically appeared (450 total – despite a court order of 379), for top dollar, with a clean bill of health.  

The money was put into an escrow. For the next 18 months, Dr. Amy documented and took pictures of Mr. Wagner’s remaining cattle. All of his financial assets were gone. He used his social security checks to take care of his cattle. During those 18 months, according to Dr. Amy, he lost one cow. After another hearing, the courts ordered the seizure of the rest of his cattle, despite the photos and videos, and testimony from a vet that actually body scored the cattle using 3 different state body score systems and deemed them healthy. The cattle sold, and were the top sellers at the auction.

Other photos Dr. Amy shared with me, included some taken in April before the first group were taken. Several of the cows had big healthy calves at their sides. There was also a photo of a pile of hay that she said the county had taken to the starving cattle. There were no cattle in sight eating it. They were grazing the pastures. There were also a few pictures of heifers that looked thin. They showed signs of a long winter. My assumption that maybe Dr. Amy only took pictures of the “fat” animals was wrong. She took pictures of groups of cattle. She also took pictures of neighbor cattle – some of which looked much much thinner!

So – my why question is still unanswered. In the meantime, Mr. Wagner is cattleless, and preparing for an April hearing. If he loses, he will spend time in prison. While I’m no vet, and no expert, I believe that would be a huge injustice!

And on another note – if he is convicted, I think there are a lot of ranchers out there that better be concerned. It appears that the “animal cruelty law” has some hidden twists. And look out for Dr. Amy – you all may think she’s just a poodle vet…but she’s not!