In Clayton County, Iowa, a family’s quiet life of organic farming was shattered on March 31, 2025. Al Dlouhy and his daughter Jen Gamerdinger, operators of Bear Creek Acres Dairy, were arrested in a public spectacle—for selling canned beef without licenses they believed they didn’t need. The arrest, executed with an undercover agent from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), unfolded in front of Jen’s six children, leaving the family humiliated and defiant. They had been operating under a Private Membership Association (PMA), thinking it shielded them from what they saw as oppressive regulations. Instead, they became targets of what many are calling government overreach—a chilling example of coercive tactics used against farmers and food processors nationwide.
This isn’t just an Iowa story. It’s a warning for every American who values food freedom and individual liberty. Government agencies are increasingly wielding unconstitutional actions and color of law—enforcing codes they have no constitutional authority to impose—to prosecute and persecute those who dare to feed their communities outside the system. But we’re not powerless. By using First Amendment petitions and citizen actions at the county level, we can hold our representatives accountable to their oaths and push back against this assault on our rights. Here’s how—and why—it’s time to act.
The Incident: A Family Farm Targeted
Bear Creek Acres Dairy has been a cornerstone of organic farming since 1999, run by Al and Nancy Dlouhy alongside their daughter Jen Gamerdinger. For years, they complied with a maze of licenses—milking permits, cheese manufacturing permits, and more—subjecting themselves to frequent inspections. But when they sought a license to can meat, they hit a wall: the state deemed it “unobtainable,” forcing them to rely on one of two approved canners. Frustrated by these barriers, they turned to a PMA in 2024, believing it allowed them to sell directly to members without government interference.
A PMA is a private group where members consent to terms for accessing goods—like organic meat—not offered to the public. Many farmers use PMAs to bypass regulations they view as unjust, citing constitutional protections like the 5th and 14th Amendments’ guarantees of due process and equal protection. The Dlouhys saw their PMA as a lawful exercise of their right to contract freely, a way to provide high-quality food to their community without bureaucratic overreach.
Their trust was shattered when an undercover IDALS agent, posing as a PMA member, tricked them into a sale. That transaction led to their arrest—publicly, painfully, in front of Jen’s children. The family calls it retaliation for rejecting licenses and embracing food freedom. Iowa law, under Iowa Code Chapter 189A, mandates inspections for meat sold to the public, but the Dlouhys argue their PMA sales were private. Whether the law agrees is beside the point: the question is whether such heavy-handed tactics—deception, public shaming, and arrests—are justified to enforce it.
Government Overreach: A Pattern of Coercion
The Dlouhy family’s ordeal mirrors a growing trend. In Pennsylvania, Amish farmer Amos Miller has faced raids and lawsuits for selling uninspected food through his PMA. Across the country, agencies are deploying coercive tactics—undercover stings, armed raids, and public arrests—to intimidate farmers and food processors who challenge the regulatory status quo. These aren’t isolated enforcement actions; they’re a systematic effort to suppress alternative food systems.
In Iowa, the use of an undercover agent to entrap the Dlouhys smacks of coercion, not public safety. Arresting a mother in front of her children isn’t about protecting consumers—it’s about sending a message: comply, or we’ll destroy you. This is government overreach at its worst, using color of law—the appearance of legal authority—to enforce codes that agencies often lack constitutional grounding to impose. The Constitution delegates no power to regulate private food transactions, yet agencies act as if they’re above it, violating our rights to food freedom and self-determination.
This matters to Loudoun County, Virginia, too. Our own farmers, governed by the [Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, face similar pressures. If we don’t act, the same fate could befall our community’s producers. Food freedom isn’t a luxury—it’s a right, and it’s under attack.
The Solution: First Amendment Petitions and Citizen Actions
We don’t have to stand idly by. The First Amendment gives us the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances—a tool our founders wielded against tyranny. Paired with citizen actions at the county level, it’s our way to fight back. Here’s how to use them to hold representatives accountable and oppose this overreach:
1. Launch or Join First Amendment Petitions
A First Amendment petition is a formal demand for change, rooted in your constitutional right to “petition the government for redress of grievances”. In response to the Dlouhy case, petitions could:
- Call for an investigation into IDALS’s use of undercover operations.
- Demand transparency in how food safety laws are enforced against small farmers.
- Push for reforms recognizing private agreements like PMAs.
Gather signatures, make your case specific, and present it to local and state officials. Numbers matter—when dozens, hundreds, or thousands sign on, representatives can’t ignore the pressure. This isn’t just awareness; it’s a constitutional act to demand accountability.
2. Mobilize Citizen Actions at the County Level
Counties are where grassroots power thrives. Take these steps:
- Attend County Board Meetings: Show up, speak out, and share the Dlouhy story—or local examples—to highlight the human toll of overreach.
- Support Local Farmers: Buy from those resisting unconstitutional regulations and amplify their voices online.
- Organize Events: Host town halls to educate your neighbors about food freedom and rally support.
Local action can shift policy. County officials, closer to the people, often feel the heat of citizen engagement more acutely than state or federal bureaucrats. Your voice here can spark real change.
3. Hold Representatives to Their Oaths
Every elected official swears to uphold the Constitution. When agencies use unconstitutional actions to persecute farmers, those oaths are broken. Use petitions and public pressure to:
- Demand public statements condemning coercive tactics.
- Advocate for laws protecting food freedom and curbing agency overreach.
- Elect candidates who honor their oaths and defend liberty.
Accountability isn’t optional—it’s our right to enforce. If representatives won’t protect us, we must replace them with those who will.
Why Food Freedom Is Worth Fighting For
This fight transcends canned beef or PMAs. It’s about who controls what you eat—your family or the government. When agencies prosecute farmers under color of law, they erode our liberty to choose how our food is grown, processed, and sold. If they can arrest the Dlouhys for feeding their community, they can come for anyone. Food freedom is a pillar of personal autonomy; lose it, and you lose a piece of your sovereignty.
In Loudoun County, our farming heritage is at stake. We can’t let bureaucratic overreach choke out our producers. The Dlouhys face prison time but refuse to surrender—their defiance should ignite ours.
Take Action Now: Protect Your Rights
The time for complacency is over. Here’s how you can act today:
- Sign or Start a Petition: Use your First Amendment right to demand answers and reforms from officials.
- Show Up Locally: Attend a county board meeting and speak for food freedom.
- Support Farmers: Buy local, share their stories, and build a network of resistance.
- Spread the Word: Share this article on social media to wake others up to the fight.
Government overreach festers when we’re silent. But when we unite—through First Amendment petitions, citizen actions, and relentless pressure—we can reclaim our rights. The Dlouhys are counting on us. Food freedom is counting on us. Act now, because liberty won’t wait.