|Big Radio News|
The Rock County deer farm that tested positive for chronic wasting disease this week has a checkered past.
The Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection confirmed Friday that the CWD positive test was on a five-and-and-half year-old doe at Afton Bottoms Ranch, which is owned by 58-year-old Rodney VanBeek.
In 2003 VanBeek plead no contest to fraud in obtaining a license after being cited by the Department of Natural Resources. He was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
In November of 2024, VanBeek plead no contest in Rock County Court to failure to comply with an animal quarantine order, which is a civil forfeiture.
According to court documents obtained by WCLO, Afton Bottoms was placed under a quarantine order by the state veterinarian in May of 2023. During an inspection, it was learned that VanBeek allowed a hunter to shoot and kill an elk, and remove its head from the property in August of 2023 when the quarantine order was in place.
