More than 400 residents of Door and surrounding counties crowded into the Door County Gala Event Space and onto ZOOM in Sturgeon Bay Wednesday morning for a rare public hearing on the proposed expansion of Gilbert Farms into a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). The event, organized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), offered a mix of opposition and support for the farm's expansion.

Many speakers voiced concerns about key issues, including drinking water safety, foul odors, and the suitability of the land itself. One speaker who lives near the site warned that there are a lot of residents within three to five miles of the farm, and predominantly they’re on well water. The region's thin soils and Karst geology repeatedly came up as opponents argued that the area is especially vulnerable to manure seepage and contamination of groundwater. Local business owners and a family veterinarian spoke at the event, not entirely aligning with the opposition. Some argued that the farm is a long-standing community employer and that expansion may provide economic support, though these voices still raised caveats about oversight and environmental protections.

The Gilbert family themselves addressed the crowd, saying their roots in the area date back more than a century and made an impassioned plea for loyalty and trust. They described the farm as a multi-generation family enterprise, not a large industrial operation, adding that the expansion is needed to remain viable in the modern dairy economy. They also pledged to maintain transparency, to work with DNR approved engineers and to upgrade manure storage and liner systems. Despite the tone of cooperation, many in attendance were unconvinced.