"It's my land..." says Michelle Ozbun

"It's my land; it's my right to make a living," says Michelle Ozbun, standing with husband Rodney on the Ozbun farm site where they plan to build a chicken CAFO, despite protests from neighbors. The Ozbuns now raise meat goats and some horses on their 75-acre family farm, but people like Jim Riedel don't consider the Ozbuns farmers. "That's 80 acres of rocks up there," he said of the farm where the Ozbuns live in a mobile home. "It's not good for anything other than goats and, now, chicken houses. I don't call that a farm." Springfield News Leader

Michelle’s attitude of “it’s my land” and I can do what I want with it, is hardly a picture of good fiduciary responsibility, a long term vision, a successful business, and a neighborly attitude. We have all heard of or had one of these neighbors. Following the public hearing, Michele said "I didn't know anybody in that room, nor did Dad." To me, that means she hasn’t spent much time getting to know her neighbors. If 200+ people showed up at a meeting in opposition to something that I wanted to do, I would (1) reconsider the project, (2) relocate the project elsewhere, or (3) try and work with the neighbors to come up with a solution, everyone could live with. This concept of “it’s mine” sounds a lot like the kindergarten child on the playground. You would think that as adults Rodney and Michelle would have learned the skills of getting along, sharing, and listening.