USDA chief responds to UNWON reporting on King Ranch: "Help is on the way"

The King family has been targeted by the state of Washington for alleged damage to wetlands the family says are stock ponds.

In May, UNWON reported on the King family in Washington State. This generational ranching family has been the target of a multi-faceted, years-long attack from their state government—including a $267,540 fine and a criminal investigation—based on Google Earth photos of “wetlands” that officials claim show footprints and evidence of dredging. The family says these wetlands are actually man-made stock watering ponds.

On Sunday evening, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins responded to our report with an X post committing to look into the King family’s case and help them.

During her tenure as USDA chief, Rollins has drawn attention to small producers facing property rights infringements, lawfare, and government overreach.

Rollins listed recent success stories from her tenure and naming the King family as next on her list.

In a follow-up post, Rollins said she spoke with the King family by phone.

“What they have been subjected to by the Washington Department of Ecology and Department of Natural Resources is no less than egregious,” Rollins said. “Ranchers have a right to maintain stockwater farm ponds and should not be faced with a closed door criminal action and over a quarter million dollars worth of fines, just so their cattle can drink!”

She described what the King family has experienced as another example of lawfare against producers.

“The radical weaponization of laws against farmers and ranchers must END. We are looking into this,” Rollins said.