Attempted Break-in at Ridglan Farms

April 18, 2026
Public Information Office
Sheriff's Office

On Saturday, April 18, at 8:52 am, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office responded to approximately 1000 activists converging on Ridglan Farms in the town of Blue Mounds. What was originally publicized as a planned protest and break-in of the facility for Sunday, April 19th, was abruptly changed by the organizer, Wayne Hsiung, following an organizational meeting this morning.
Initially, approximately 20 law enforcement officers from throughout the county responded. Within minutes, an LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) broadcast a message to protestors informing them that if they trespassed onto clearly marked private property, they would be subject to arrest. As hundreds attempted to break through barriers and fencing on the farm, others blocked roadways to slow the response of law enforcement and other emergency personnel.
The group’s leader, Wayne Hsiung, was arrested within minutes of arriving at Ridglan Farms based on probable cause for conspiracy to commit burglary. He is currently being held in the Dane County Jail.
The Sheriff’s Office pre-planned a tiered response to resistance, should it be necessary. The response was strategic and appropriate to the activists' actions. At one point, a vehicle drove recklessly through the property until law enforcement stopped it and arrested the driver, preventing a potentially deadly outcome.
While some protestors remained peaceful, those who ignored verbal warnings with the clear intent to break into the facility were first met with tear gas as a deterrent. If they continued to escalate their efforts, they were met with less-lethal 40mm munitions and pepper balls. 
A significant number of arrests were made; the exact details of those arrests are still being compiled. Jail booking information can be found on the Sheriff’s Office website, https://danesheriff.com/Residents, or on the Sheriff’s App.
“It was clear from the beginning that this was not going to be a peaceful protest,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “The DCSO response to the active break-in attempts by hundreds of protesters was appropriate and proportionate to the behaviors observed. With the assistance of our partner agencies, we were able to maintain order without anyone being seriously injured. We care about the welfare of all animals in our Dane County community.  Resorting to crime, chaos, and violence is not the solution.”

A large quantity of evidence was recovered, including burglary tools such as saws, fence cutters, and sledgehammers. Handcuff keys and tear gas were also seized from activists. Additionally, during the attempted break-in, activists attempted to divert resources by overwhelming Dane County’s 911 center and inundating the Sheriff’s Office with phone calls.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office extends our sincere appreciation to more than 17 first responder agencies from across the county and the state who assisted our deputies today. Their support was critical to managing a large-scale, volatile situation.
This will be an ongoing investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and we will continue to provide updates as it progresses. The Sheriff’s Office has also provided an FAQ page on our website regarding Ridglan Farms at https://danesheriff.com/Ridglan-Farms.