DURLACH, Pa. — My “job” at the recent meeting of dairy farmers and others interested in dairy was to be the moderator — and if needed — umpire, referee and bouncer. So suggested Pete Hardin jokingly in an email sent a week earlier.

Moderator. I didn’t even get to do that since Pete and Sherry Bunting did most of the talking seemlessly and flawlessly. As anticipated, both of them had a lot of important things to say. You can consider that an understatement.

While neither Pete nor Sherry needed an introduction, I had an urge to announce that this meeting was going to be very different from any other.

“This meeting is going to be honest,” I stated emphatically. “No sugar coating, just a lot of truth telling and absolutely no ‘bullschmutz’.” I wanted people to know that and genuinely feel the integrity that is often sorely lacking when coop leaders stand before their members … “leading them on,” as we say.

Nothing of the sort would be heard at this meeting. Truth prevailed at this small gathering which allowed for comments and questions from the audience. Any and all questions, we might add. Our revered freedom of speech was honored, not restricted.

It was refreshing to be involved in such a gathering in any capacity. And bluntly critical as I’ve been known to be over the years regarding outfits like DFA and DMI, I took a shot or two at them.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I mentioned 97 MILK, Allied Milk Producers and Three Farmers Who Care, all of them operating with highest standards of integrity.

Disappointing to see was that only 40 chairs were filled with derriéres. But that feeling didn’t last long because among those 40 people were four journalists. Sherry, Pete and I are generally “preaching to the choir.” But Dave Lefever, who writes for Lancaster Farming, will provide exposure to far wider audiences. And that’s good.

Whether it’s deliberately difficult-to-understand milk pricing formulas or the unequalled nutritional benefits of whole milk, let the truth be known. Let shameless politicians and greedy processors be exposed. And let’s bring realities into clubby co-op board rooms.

I’ve saved the best for last: A personal, true and amusing tale shared by Pete Hardin when he was asked why he started The Milkweed.

He explained that his first job — fresh out of college — was to work for a New Jersey-based dairy cooperative. It was an office job with access to financial records, which he found to be very questionable to say the least. A brave soul with Quaker-rooted morals, Pete exposed the shenanigans by way of an article in his brand-new publication. The result? A $40 million lawsuit against him. His top personal asset at the time was a worn-out, rusty 1970 Ford Torino. The legal challenge was quite understandably a massive blow in all real and imaginable ways. A very bold but poor “David” was confronting an all-powerful “Goliath”.

But Pete won. He won because he was right. He had reported a documentable and court-supported truth. And that’s what he has been doing ever since. Forty-seven years’ worth of unblemished, solid integrity as of this month.