Tragedy will take a long time to get over

I would like to send this letter to the judge who will be presiding over the young man who allegedly killed the calves and to our city neighbors who do not know one dairy farm from another.

I live on Tualco Road not far from the Werkhoven farm where the calves where killed. Even though my husband and I do not know the Werkhoven family personally, we have purchased calves from them in the past and we always wave and say hello when passing. If ever the word spotless and dairy farm could be used in the same sentence, the Werkhoven Farm would be the one. The end of the barn that runs along the side of Tualco Loop Roa d has a flower bed on it that has beautiful tulips in it from early spring and petunias into late fall. The pens where the calves were kept are always clean. The calves are always clean, healthy and happy.

Many times my husband and I would stop by the pens and watch and pet the calves. Calves at that age are very loving and trusting of people. They run right up to you and want to be petted and they love to be scratched behind their ears. You can’t watch baby calves for very long with out a big smile coming on your face.

As often as possible I walked or rode my bike around “the loop” but I haven’t been able to bring myself to go past the pens since this terrible thing happened. I still have bad dreams about the whole incident and go from sick to my stomach to anger. This young man shocked and devastated the whole Tualco Valley. It will be a long time before any of us get over this.

Monroe

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