A high-profile trial over raw milk got underway in Baraboo, Wisconsin Monday. 12 jurors were selected and opening arguments were heard. Dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger in on trial for selling milk without a license and ignoring a “hold” order from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Hershberger started selling unpasteurized milk and other products from a store on his farm to a private buyers club in 2004. In 2009 he was cited by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture for not having a retail eatery license and in 2010 for not having the proper license to sell milk. Officials sealed cases of unpasteurized dairy products on the farm in June of 2010 but Hershberger resumed selling to club members. Hershberger contends did not need a license because he was not selling to the public but only to club members. The State of Wisconsin does not recognize buyer’s clubs where consumers buy or lease a cow on the farm and then get raw milk and other dairy products from it.

Raw milk advocates from across the country have descended upon the town of 12,000 to show their support for Hershberger but Sauk County Circuit Judge Guy Reynolds is determined to keep the trial focused on the charges: was Hershberger’s farm properly licensed to sell milk and did he violate the hold order? At a pre-trial hearing last week the judge granted a prosecution request to prohibit testimony about the merits of raw milk. He also barred testimony on Hershberger’s religious convictions.

Baraboo lays claim to being the home of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus and is home of Circus World Museum, raw milk advocates have booked the famous Al Ringling Theater across the street from the courthouse to host speeches, presentations, music and other activities in support of Hershberger and raw milk consumption.