The Lipscombs will be representing themselves pro se…
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2025 10:11 am
“Bryson Lipscomb called me yesterday to inform me that the state has withdrawn the suit in its entirety.
...
No attorney will represent them because lawyers can lose their licenses to practice if they dare to defend PMAs. The Lipscombs will be representing themselves pro se…
I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to the Lipscombs for standing up to the Virginia Department of Health, and for doing so when they had no professional legal assistance, and certainly no guarantee of success. I also want to thank Joel Salatin for raising awareness of the case, and everyone who came out in support of the Lipscombs. As Joel says, it was very likely that it was this pressure that caused the department to back down. This victory does not only help the Lipscombs, it helps every single one of us who wishes to operate in freedom, to create, and to trade with one another as we choose. And to thrive.”
Link:
https://open.substack.com/pub/bretigne/ ... d&r=31s3eo
Background:
TIME TO STAND
Okay, everyone, it's time to stand up. Monday 10 a.m., Sept. 22 at Campbell County Courthouse, in Virginia a small farm family will stand before a judge to defend their right to operate a Private Membership Association. They offer raw milk, raw milk products, and pork to some 300 club members and make their fulltime living from their small farm.
Around the country I'm seeing Private Membership Associations (PMAs) being attacked by government regulators in the newest permutation of the freedom-of-food-choice battle. We have freedom of choice in the bedroom, bathroom, and womb, but not in the kitchen.
Triple Oaks Farm in Long Island, Virginia is operated by Bryson and Mackenzie Lipscomb. They started three and a half years ago as a herd share operation but due to its clunkiness upgraded to a PMA about a year ago. In December, 2024 they received a cease and desist order from the local health department which they ignored but now they've been petitioned for an immediate and permanent injunction by the state. Bryson is a military veteran who willingly put his life on the line to protect America and is now in a war with his country over the right to sell his farm products. Every vet should descend on this court battle to support this family.
No attorney will represent them because lawyers can lose their licenses to practice if they dare to defend PMAs. The Lipscombs will be representing themselves pro se although their PMA documentation was drawn up with the counsel of ProAdvocate, one of the leading PMA developers in America. In a PMA, members pay a membership fee which then entitles them to the benefits of the PMA. They operate outside public commerce. They were started in the deep south after 1964 to enable white-only country clubs to prohibit blacks from their golf courses. They were successful. These precedents are now being applied to keep government agents from intervening in private food transactions like they were prohibited from enforcing the Civil Rights Act half a century ago.
Plank 15 and 16 of the petition are as follows:
15. Triple Oaks and the Lipscombs produce, provide, sell, offer for sale and stores (sic) milk and milk products without a valid permit issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) in violation of 2VACS-531-50.
16. Triple Oaks and the Lipscombs also offer to sell, sell (sic) barter, trade, or accept goods or services in exchange for unpasteurized, raw milk and milk products intended for human consumption in violation of 2VACS-490-75.
Read more:
https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/9 ... e-to-stand
...
No attorney will represent them because lawyers can lose their licenses to practice if they dare to defend PMAs. The Lipscombs will be representing themselves pro se…
I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to the Lipscombs for standing up to the Virginia Department of Health, and for doing so when they had no professional legal assistance, and certainly no guarantee of success. I also want to thank Joel Salatin for raising awareness of the case, and everyone who came out in support of the Lipscombs. As Joel says, it was very likely that it was this pressure that caused the department to back down. This victory does not only help the Lipscombs, it helps every single one of us who wishes to operate in freedom, to create, and to trade with one another as we choose. And to thrive.”
Link:
https://open.substack.com/pub/bretigne/ ... d&r=31s3eo
Background:
TIME TO STAND
Okay, everyone, it's time to stand up. Monday 10 a.m., Sept. 22 at Campbell County Courthouse, in Virginia a small farm family will stand before a judge to defend their right to operate a Private Membership Association. They offer raw milk, raw milk products, and pork to some 300 club members and make their fulltime living from their small farm.
Around the country I'm seeing Private Membership Associations (PMAs) being attacked by government regulators in the newest permutation of the freedom-of-food-choice battle. We have freedom of choice in the bedroom, bathroom, and womb, but not in the kitchen.
Triple Oaks Farm in Long Island, Virginia is operated by Bryson and Mackenzie Lipscomb. They started three and a half years ago as a herd share operation but due to its clunkiness upgraded to a PMA about a year ago. In December, 2024 they received a cease and desist order from the local health department which they ignored but now they've been petitioned for an immediate and permanent injunction by the state. Bryson is a military veteran who willingly put his life on the line to protect America and is now in a war with his country over the right to sell his farm products. Every vet should descend on this court battle to support this family.
No attorney will represent them because lawyers can lose their licenses to practice if they dare to defend PMAs. The Lipscombs will be representing themselves pro se although their PMA documentation was drawn up with the counsel of ProAdvocate, one of the leading PMA developers in America. In a PMA, members pay a membership fee which then entitles them to the benefits of the PMA. They operate outside public commerce. They were started in the deep south after 1964 to enable white-only country clubs to prohibit blacks from their golf courses. They were successful. These precedents are now being applied to keep government agents from intervening in private food transactions like they were prohibited from enforcing the Civil Rights Act half a century ago.
Plank 15 and 16 of the petition are as follows:
15. Triple Oaks and the Lipscombs produce, provide, sell, offer for sale and stores (sic) milk and milk products without a valid permit issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) in violation of 2VACS-531-50.
16. Triple Oaks and the Lipscombs also offer to sell, sell (sic) barter, trade, or accept goods or services in exchange for unpasteurized, raw milk and milk products intended for human consumption in violation of 2VACS-490-75.
Read more:
https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/9 ... e-to-stand