MORONI—For several years in a row now, Norbest in Moroni has joined together with animal activists to put aside their differences and celebrate Thanksgiving.
This year, Rick Pitman, the owner of Pitman Farms and Norbest, agreed to send nine turkeys to animal sanctuaries and, in return, a group of animal rights activists called Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) provided food and gifts for employees of the Norbest plant.
The tradition started back in 2018, when Pitman released 100 turkeys to the leader of DxE after the group was arrested for taking a turkey from a local turkey farm. Hsiung was charged with third-degree felony burglary and theft in 2018. His case was set for trial in 2019. But the charges against him were dismissed with prejudice on Nov. 16 of this year.
On Thanksgiving each year, the two groups put aside their differences and come together in an act of cooperation and compassion.
“There are so many scary things happening in the world around us. The least we can do is to treat one another with kindness and understanding—especially during the holiday season” said Hsiung. “From activists to farmers and everywhere in between, ordinary people want animals and our environment to be protected, and they’re willing to fight for it.”
Hsiung’s group is also facing charges for taking piglets from Circle Four Farms and taking a goat from a farm in North Carolina.
The cooperation with Pitman Farms is particularly powerful in contrast with the response of other industry voices in the state, Hsuing said.
