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Karen Hudson - Modern Era

In the mid-1990s Karen Hudson became committed to stopping the spread of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) when a corporation sought to establish a large hog farm near where she lived. Karen founded Families Against Rural Messes (FARM), a grassroots group in Illinois that opposes CAFOs and their impacts. She is also co-founder of Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water (ICCAW), a state-wide coalition of family farmers and community groups advocating for sound policies and practices that protect the environment, human health, and rural quality of life from the impacts of large-scale industrialized livestock production facilities in Illinois.

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview Session (Audio)

Photos

Caption

A manually excavated channel from a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Illinois connected to Bear Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River, which was discovered in 1997.

Where:

Illinois

When:

1997

Ownership:

Photo taken by Edith Galloway. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption

An 80,000-head swine concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Green County, Illinois, 1997.

Where:

Green County, Illinois

When:

1997

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Karen Hudson and friend during a trip to Poland in 2000. (Photo taken by Agnes Von Volkenberg.

Where:

Poland

When:

2000

Ownership:

May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption

The Inwood Dairy spill in February, 2001 resulted in one million gallons of waste being pumped into the Kickapoo Creek watershed, the largest spill in recent history, resulting in a $50,000 fine.

Where:

Illinois

When:

February, 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

The Inwood Dairy spill, where one million gallons of waste was pumped into the Kickapoo Creek watershed in February, 2001, resulting in a $50,000 fine. It was the largest manure dump in IL history.

Where:

Illinois

When:

February, 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

A lagoon spill at the Inwood Dairy in October of 2001.

Where:

Illinois

When:

October of 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

A creek near the Inwood Dairy shows foam containing high fecal coliform matter in a photo taken by Karen Hudson in October, 2001.

Where:

Illinois

When:

October of 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

An aerial view of deliberate dumping from the lagoon at Inwood Dairy, estimated between two and ten million gallons. The photo was taken by Karen Hudson in October, 2001.

Where:

Illinois

When:

October of 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Attempted cleanup of a lagoon spill at Inwood Dairy, in October, 2001.

Where:

Illinois

When:

October of 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Inwood Dairy spill, October of 2001.

Where:

Illinois

When:

October of 2001

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Run-off from the Stoneridge Dairy in Bellflower, Illinois in September of 2010.

Where:

Bellflower, Illinois

When:

September of 2010

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

The Land of Stinkin sign created by Karen Hudson that was used as part of a protest against factory farms in Illinois in 2012, especially hog and cattle operations in protests.

Where:

Illinois

When:

2012

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Rocky and Karen Hudson while they were vacationing in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan in 2016.

Where:

Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

When:

2016

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Karen Hudson, co-founder of Illinois Citizens for Clean Air

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

Jan. 24, 2017

Ownership:

From a Chicago Tribune article. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.