Prison Over a Fence Line: Trump Administration Dismisses Maude Ranching Family Case
- jennysmithmattfeldt
- May 2
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
By JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT Published May 2, 2025
In 2024, a fifth-generation ranching family from South Dakota found themselves at the center of a legal battle. Charles and Heather Maude were contacted by the U.S. Forest Service over a fence line dispute along the edge of their property bordering the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, and in good faith, agreed to a survey—which revealed that a decades-old fence, in place for over 70 years, had encroached on 25 acres of federal land.
What should have been a routine civil dispute about land rights quickly spiraled into a full-blown criminal prosecution. The Maudes were suddenly facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine—an approach later called “a politically motivated witch hunt.”
"This family was targeted solely over what should have been a minor civil dispute," said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins. "They were credibly threatened with jail sentences so extreme that they were told to find alternatives to raise their young children."
Put yourself in their shoes for a minute. It's so easy to think, especially in rural communities, that government overreach won’t affect you—that if you keep your head down and mind your own business, you’ll be left alone—but that just isn't the reality anymore. Imagine standing on the same ground your family has worked for five generations and being hit with the threat of a decade in prison. They say there are two kinds of injustice: those who commit the injustice, and those who stand by and watch it happen.
Thankfully, the ag community doesn't seem to be made up of either of those—and as it turns out, neither is the Trump administration.
This week, in a victory for ranchers across America, the Trump administration completely dismissed the case against the Maude family. On April 30th, they were invited to Washington, D.C., to speak on the issue, share their story, and thank those who stood by their side.
“[I'd like to thank] our neighbors who stood up for us at the threat of retribution to their operations that they still face until we get this completely resolved,” Heather Maude said. “And we are so thankful for the efforts that are being rolled out today to help make progress in the right direction.”
They also thanked the generations that came before them—including both grandfathers who fought in World War II and a great-grandmother who was a Four-Star War Mom, meaning all four of her boys went to war and all four came home.
This is a story about more than just a fence. It’s about resilience. It’s about neighbors refusing to let you struggle alone. It’s about a ranching community—both local and national—rallying behind one of their own. And it's a confirmation that your vote, and who you elect, really does matter in this country.
If you or someone you know has been unjustly affected by government overreach in agriculture or ranching, the USDA has launched a new portal at usda.gov to help report and resolve these issues.
Comments