After marching on the capitol in Des Moines, nearly 50 members and supporters of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement came to Ames and protested plans to build a feed mill in Carroll County.

The group had planned to march into the offices of Murphy Family Farms, located in the ISU Research Park, but their “surprise attack” protest had to be held near the front of the building after they discovered the doors had been locked.

The protest lasted about 30 minutes.

In October, Murphy, Inc., of the Midwest announced plans to build a new feed mill in Manning. Upset by this proposal, the CCI Carroll Regional Chapter said the Iowa CCI has written the company to express their displeasure with the plans for construction.

According to a press release from Murphy Family Farms, the “state-of-the-art” $12 million feed mill will be built in 1998.

Monday afternoon, protesters read a statement saying they believe the proposed feed mill will “threaten to triple the number of Murphy hog factories in western Iowa.”

The group believed Randy Stoecker, president of the Midwest division of Murphy Factories, was in the building at the time of their protest, but Jill Spiekerman, director of communications for Murphy Family Farms, said Stoecker has been out of town all day.

Spiekerman said the doors were locked when Murphy Family Farms staff found out about the protest.

“This is a private building,” she said.

Paulsen said the CCI Carroll Regional Chapter tried to contact Stoecker in December, but he never responded.

“He said he would listen to us,” Paulsen said, adding the feed mill is “just the beginning” of problems for Iowa farms.

Paulsen said the waste produced by the hogs in the feed mill “would equal one and a fourth times that of Chicago.”

While wearing stickers that read “Family Farms, Yes! Factory Farms, No!,” and “Don’t Fear Democracy,” members of the group announced their displeasure with Stoecker and Murphy owner Wendell Murphy.

“Iowa CCI Members are here to put Murphy Factory Farms, its billionaire owner Wendell Murphy, and its Midwest President Randy Stoecker on notice — you and your hog factories aren’t welcome in our state,” said Rosemary Paulsen, chairwoman of Iowa CCI’s Carroll Regional Chapter.

Paulsen and Rosemary Patridge, vice chairwoman of the Carroll chapter, addressed the crowd gathered in front of Murphy Family Farms.

Paulsen said the waste that will be produced by the proposed hog factories will pollute the drinking water of Des Moines.

“This water, this waste is going down the river to Des Moines and we’re drinking it!” Paulsen said. “Corporate money is taking over!”

While different members of Iowa CCI took turns passing around their megaphone to address the crowd, the protesters knocked on the glass of the locked windows and doors, while chanting, “Go Home, Murphy!”

“Murphy keeps telling us they want to locate in communities that will accept hog factories,” Paulsen said. “We are here today to tell Randy Stoecker we don’t want Murphy’s Feed Mill or any Murphy hog factories in our communities.”

The group held up an over-sized novelty Greyhound bus ticket, with Stoecker’s name and “one-way” printed across the bottom.

The protesters taped the ticket, as well as a sign reading, “Go Home, Murphy!” to the front of the building.

Several Murphy Family Farms staff members peered out the glass doors, but no one came out to ask the protesters to leave.

Iowa State also came under fire during the protest.

“Why do you think Murphy is on Iowa State property?” one protester called out.

“Because ISU carries water for the hog factory!” another protester yelled back.

The repeated theme of the protesters seemed to be their distaste for “corporate money.”

“It’s a crying shame that these things are invading your quality of life,” said protester Charlie Smith. “We need to stand by the people from Carroll.”