Wisconsin Suspended Grassway Organics Milk License

The state sanctioned the Walworth County dairy farm over its raw milk distribution practices in April 2026.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a milk bottle silhouette integrated into a farmhouse roof, representing regulatory agricultural disputes. — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection suspended Grassway Organics' license in April 2026, citing unauthorized raw milk distribution practices. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should consumers have the legal right to purchase unpasteurized milk directly from local farms?

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection suspended the milk producer license of Grassway Organics in April 2026. The state also imposed a $10,000 fine alongside a $50 daily penalty for continued operations.

Why it matters

Wisconsin law prohibits commercial raw milk sales but permits distribution to those with a bona fide ownership interest in a farm. The state claims these sales were illegal, while the owner asserts his specific distribution system had prior regulatory approval.

Grassway Organics received its initial state license in 2020. The farm has since raised over $60,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to support its legal defense.

The players

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

This state agency oversees agricultural regulations, food safety standards, and producer licensing throughout Wisconsin.

Chaz Self

He is the owner of Grassway Organics who is challenging the state license suspension in administrative court.

Grassway Organics

This is a dairy farm located in Walworth County that utilizes an ownership-based model for raw milk distribution.

The details

The farm operates a program where consumers purchase ownership interests in the dairy to receive raw milk, which the owner believes complies with state ownership laws. Farmer Chaz Self is currently seeking a temporary restraining order against the state as the dispute moves through the administrative court system.

Grassway Organics was licensed by DATCP in 2020.
Chaz Self reapplied for his milk producer license in the fall of 2025.
DATCP suspended the milk producer license in April 2026.
Chaz Self shared the legal fight on social media in early October 2026.

Culture Shift

This dispute reflects the growing tension between small-scale agricultural producers using direct-to-consumer ownership models and state food safety regulations. It highlights a shift where farmers increasingly leverage social media and crowdfunding to challenge long-standing dairy compliance standards.

Residents participating in the farm's ownership program face potential disruptions in their access to raw milk products. Consumers should monitor the progress of the legal battle to determine if the farm's distribution system will be permitted to continue operations.

The takeaway

This case serves as a reminder that distribution models relying on ownership shares still face significant scrutiny under state agricultural statutes. Producers and consumers should be aware that state regulatory approval can be subject to reversal based on changes in enforcement priorities.