Wisconsin farmer warns others on free sample scams
Gilman dairyman Phil Guernsey and his wife Barbara recount a harrowing seven month ordeal after sending a nonfree sample card from Mid Country Chemical Corp. A flood of abusive calls, a threatened judgment, a skyrocketing bacteria count, and a $1,249 bill plus $90 in charges followed. The couple live on Highway 64 between Gilman and Cornell near the Taylor Chippewa county line.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Phil Guernsey
Wisconsin
Highway 64
Gilman
Cornell
Taylor-Chippewa
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
Consumer Protection Division
Madison
The
Country Today
Mid Country Chemical Corp. of America
Kansas City
Free samples led to costly dairy farm scam in Wisconsin
Phil and Mrs. Guernsey of rural Gilman recount a series of doorstep free sample offers from a Kansas City company that billed $1,295 for a 100 pound drum of pipeline cleaner after the couple never ordered it. Despite threats and abusive calls, they paid only $250 and returned to their former cleaner while noting a spike in milk bacteria and ongoing harassment from sales reps. A Wisconsin official seeks a full report to prevent similar cases.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Phil Guernsey
Gilman
Kansas City, Mo
Guernseys
Falls Dairy Co
Kansas City
Guernsey
New York
Alaska
UPS
Mid Country Chemical Corp
Mr. Barrett
Mr. Semerad
Wisconsin Churches Back Farm Crisis Action Plan
The Wisconsin Council of Churches endorses a paper from the Wisconsin Rural Development Center outlining a family farm crisis and remedies. It calls for debt relief tax reform soil conservation and rural redevelopment to strengthen farming and sustain Wisconsin’s economy. Herman Felstehausen warns that widespread farm failures threaten the state's overall economy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Bonnee Voss
Wisconsin Impact
Wisconsin Rural Development Center
Herman Felstehausen
Uwextension
Wisconsin
Detergent blends must fit farm water and systems
Dairy detergent specialists warn that pipeline cleaners must be tailored to milk content and water chemistry. Dick Semerad of Falls Dairy Co. says fat protein and minerals drive formula choice, with chlorine cutting protein and alkali cutting fat. Door to door sales pose legal risks and mislabeling hazards, while New York advisories stress proper containers, labeling, accurate dosing and pH posting for CIP procedures.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dick Semerad
Falls Dairy Co
Chippewa County
Semerad
Bob Barrett
Monarch Chemical Division
H.B. Fuller Co
Minneapolis
Monarch Chemical Co
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gilman Farmer
Mr. Guernsey
Barbara
Omaha
Neb
Thorp
Mrs. Guernsey
Mid Country Chemical Co
Hicksville
N.Y
Jane Jansen
Steve Kinderman
State Church Council
United States
New York City
Jim
Barrett
New York Department of Agriculture and Markets
New York State
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!