The Wisconsin DNR closed public comments on United Pride Dairy’s 5-year waste permit four days ago. We don’t know yet whether anyone requested a hearing. What we do know is that the permit would authorize 39 million gallons of annual manure spreading across 5,420 acres in the Jump River watershed — and the town supervisor who voted to approve the $1.83 million road grant that runs past the same dairy isn’t required to recuse himself under Wisconsin law, even though the statute that says he should has been on the books since 1953.
Quick Answer: The WPDES permit comment period for United Pride Dairy closed July 10, 2026. The permit would govern 5,365 animal units and 39 million gallons of annual manure through July 2031. The DNR has not yet announced whether a hearing was requested or when the permit will be issued. The permit term is scheduled to begin August 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the ARIP grant conflict involving Town of Worcester Supervisor Jeremy Pesko — who voted on a $1.83 million road grant for the road his dairy sits on — remains unresolved.
We’ve been tracking this story since February. Nobody’s connecting the dots.
Last updated: July 2026
By Northwoods Explorer | Last updated: July 14, 2026
Here’s what bothers us about the United Pride Dairy story: it’s not one story. It’s three — a fatal crash, a road grant conflict, and a waste permit — and nobody in official capacity is treating them as connected. The FMCSA logged 17 violations against United Pride’s carrier on the same day two people died at Highway 13 and Highway 111. The Town of Worcester accepted $1.83 million to rebuild Little Chicago Road — the road past the dairy’s front door — with Supervisor Jeremy Pesko participating. The DNR is about to issue a 5-year permit for 39 million gallons of manure in the same watershed. Three agencies, three blind spots.
We’ve spent four months pulling records on this. The crash data comes from FMCSA’s SAFER system. The grant details come from the Town of Worcester’s own website. The permit numbers come from DNR’s public notice. None of this required secret sources — it required someone reading the documents and noticing that the same names keep appearing.
The Permit: What Just Happened
The public comment period for United Pride Dairy’s WPDES permit renewal closed on July 10. The DNR hasn’t published whether any comments were submitted or whether the five-person threshold for a public hearing was met. We’ve reached out to Ben Mrdutt, the DNR permit drafter, and haven’t received a response.
What the permit covers: 5,365 animal units, 39 million gallons of liquid manure annually, 6,095 tons of solid manure, spread across 5,420 acres in the North Fork Jump River and Jump River watersheds. The permit term runs August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2031 — five years of manure application in a watershed that feeds Cranberry Lake and the Jump River.
The permit also authorizes a new 2-million-gallon manure storage pit in Kennan Township — the farm’s sixth storage facility. Construction is planned for 2026.
The Crash: Two Dead, 17 Violations, No Public Update
On August 28, 2025, a United Pride Dairy semi-truck collided with a pickup truck at Highway 13 and Highway 111 in the Town of Worcester. Two people died. The FMCSA inspection that day logged 17 violations against the carrier.
FMCSA records show United Pride Dairy LLC (USDOT 1009930) operates 18 power units with 40 drivers as a private carrier. The company has no assigned safety rating — common for private carriers, but worth noting when 17 violations show up on a single inspection that coincides with a fatal crash.
We haven’t found any public statement from United Pride Dairy about the crash. No press release, no public letter, no appearance at a Town of Worcester board meeting to address it. The crash happened nearly 11 months ago. The carrier’s safety practices — whatever they are now — remain entirely opaque to the public.
For what it’s worth, the FMCSA database shows 5 total inspections over the 24-month reporting period, not just the one on crash day. But 17 violations on a single day, the same day two people died, is the kind of number that should prompt follow-up questions. We haven’t found evidence that anyone in official capacity is asking them.
The Grant: Statute 946.13 and the Question Nobody’s Answering
Six months before the crash, on February 25, 2025, the Town of Worcester announced it had received an ARIP grant for $1.83 million to rebuild Little Chicago Road — the road that runs past United Pride Dairy. Town Supervisor Jeremy Pesko, who public records list as a co-operator of United Pride Dairy, participated in the grant process.
Wisconsin Statute 946.13 is clear: a public official who participates in a contract where they have a private financial interest has committed a Class I felony, and the contract itself is void. The statute doesn’t require proof of intent. It doesn’t require proof that the official influenced the outcome. The participation itself is the violation.
Here’s the thing, though: nobody has charged Pesko with anything. The Price County District Attorney’s office hasn’t commented. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission hasn’t commented. The Town of Worcester hasn’t addressed the conflict publicly. The grant is moving forward. The road is being rebuilt.
The real question isn’t whether Statute 946.13 applies — the facts are straightforward. It’s why no one with authority to enforce it is willing to say so. A road grant worth $1.83 million, a public official with a documented financial interest, a statute that says the contract is void — and 18 months of silence from every enforcement body in the state.
The EEOC Lawsuit: Still Pending
United Pride Dairy also faces a federal discrimination lawsuit. On December 17, 2025, the EEOC filed EEOC v. United Pride Dairy LLC (Case No. 3:25-cv-1030) in the Western District of Wisconsin.
The EEOC alleges the farm promised three Mexican nationals professional positions to obtain TN Visas, then assigned them laborer roles with harder work and worse shifts. A separate complaint charges a supervisor with sexually harassing a female Mexican employee. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas called it a violation of federal law.
The case is pending. We haven’t found any docket entries suggesting a settlement or trial date. United Pride Dairy hasn’t publicly responded to the allegations.
What Happens Next
Three things to watch over the next 18 days:
- Permit issuance. The WPDES permit term starts August 1. The DNR typically issues the final permit shortly after the comment period closes, assuming no hearing is requested. If a hearing was requested, the process extends — but the DNR can still issue the permit while the hearing is pending.
- ARIP grant execution. The road project on Little Chicago Road is moving forward. We’ve asked the Town of Worcester for a construction timeline and whether Supervisor Pesko has recused himself from any subsequent votes. No response.
- EEOC case docket. The federal case is in early stages. Watch the Western District of Wisconsin docket for motion practice or settlement conferences.
For the record: we don’t think United Pride Dairy should be shut down. It’s one of the largest employers in the area and has operated in Price County since 2002. But a 5,365-animal-unit CAFO with a fatal crash, an unprosecuted conflict of interest, and a federal discrimination lawsuit shouldn’t get a rubber-stamp permit renewal. The public comment period existed for exactly this kind of scrutiny. Whether anyone used it, we’ll find out when the DNR responds.
See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin
See also: our guide to Price County public records
FAQ
What is the United Pride Dairy WPDES permit?
The Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit governs the farm’s manure storage and land application. It covers 5,365 animal units producing 39 million gallons of liquid manure annually, spread across 5,420 acres in the Jump River watershed. The current renewal would run August 2026 through July 2031.
Did anyone request a public hearing on the permit?
The DNR has not yet disclosed whether the five-person threshold for a public hearing was met. The comment period closed July 10, 2026. We’ve contacted the permit drafter, Ben Mrdutt, and will update this article when we receive a response.
What is the ARIP grant conflict?
The Town of Worcester accepted a $1.83 million state road grant for Little Chicago Road. Town Supervisor Jeremy Pesko, who public records identify as a co-operator of United Pride Dairy, participated in the grant process. Wisconsin Statute 946.13 makes it a Class I felony for a public official to participate in a contract where they have a private financial interest. No charges have been filed.
What happened in the fatal crash?
On August 28, 2025, a United Pride Dairy semi-truck collided with a pickup truck at Highway 13 and Highway 111 in the Town of Worcester. Two people died. The FMCSA inspection that day logged 17 violations against the carrier. United Pride Dairy has not publicly addressed the crash.
What is the EEOC lawsuit about?
The EEOC alleges United Pride Dairy promised professional positions to three Mexican nationals to obtain TN Visas, then assigned them laborer roles. A separate complaint charges a supervisor with sexual harassment of a female Mexican employee. The case is pending in the Western District of Wisconsin.
How can I stay informed about this story?
We’re tracking this story through our investigative coverage. See also our reporting on the WPDES permit details and the EEOC lawsuit. Our sister site Borrachos.bar covers Price County dining and culture.