🌽 The Fruit Farmer Fiasco: A Tale of Weddings, Veggies, and Courtroom Shenanigans 🌽

Once upon a time in the mystical land of Michigan, there lived a farmer named Steve Tennes. Now, Steve wasn't just any farmer - he was a fruit-slinging, tractor-driving, devout Catholic farmer with a knack for stirring up a brouhaha. 🚜🍅

You see, Steve owned Country Mill Farms, a sprawling 120-acre piece of green heaven. He and his wife, Bridget, were not just your run-of-the-mill farmers; oh no, they were military veterans, having served four years on active duty. So, you can bet your bottom dollar that these folks knew how to handle a battlefield, even if it was one full of apples and carrots.

For years, Country Mill Farms were a staple at the East Lansing Farmer's Market. People came from far and wide to snag their organic produce, but things took a wild turn when a new policy swooped in like a tornado of bureaucracy. The city, in a move that could only be described as "creative targeting," decided to give Country Mill a run for their heirloom tomatoes. Lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sprang into action, and a legal rodeo was born. 🤠🥦

Hold on to your pitchforks, because here's where it gets juicy: Steve had a little Facebook rendezvous with his thoughts on marriage. Turns out, according to his Catholic playbook, marriage was a one-man-one-woman affair. And he wasn't shy about it! 🤵‍♂️👰

East Lansing officials didn't take too kindly to this digital revelation. In a move that had them strutting into court like peacocks, they decided to oust Steve from the market. But Steve, oh plucky Steve, wasn't about to let his farm-fresh dreams be squashed like a bug on a windshield. He donned his farmer armor and sued the city faster than you can say "corn on the cob." 🌽🛡️

Fast forward through six years of legal back-and-forths, courtroom drama that could rival an episode of a telenovela, and more paperwork than a hay bale could hold, and guess what? Steve won! 🏆🥳

The court ruled that Steve and his family were unfairly forced to choose between their religious beliefs and their farm market mojo. The city's actions were deemed as unconstitutional as trying to milk a bull. The court even whipped out the big guns, citing the good ol' U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Denying someone their fair share of rights because of their faith? Not cool, East Lansing! 🤯📜

But wait, there's more! In a plot twist that even the most seasoned soap opera writers would envy, Steve wasn't just fighting for his apple empire. He was fighting for all of us! As Kate Anderson, senior counsel for ADF, put it, "It's about all of us being able to live according to our religious beliefs." 🙏🌈

So there you have it, folks. The saga of Steve Tennes, the fearless farmer who stood up for his fruits, veggies, and his unwavering belief that weddings were a sacred dance between one man, one woman, and a whole lot of confetti. 🎉👨‍❤️‍👨👩‍❤️‍👩

And as for Steve? Well, he's ready to put this legal circus behind him and get back to what he does best: slinging veggies and serving folks from all walks of life at the farmer's market. Because when it comes down to it, isn't that what this crazy journey was all about? 🥦🎪🌽 The Fruit Farmer Fiasco: A Tale of Weddings, Veggies, and Courtroom Shenanigans 🌽

Once upon a time in the mystical land of Michigan, there lived a farmer named Steve Tennes. Now, Steve wasn't just any farmer - he was a fruit-slinging, tractor-driving, devout Catholic farmer with a knack for stirring up a brouhaha. 🚜🍅

You see, Steve owned Country Mill Farms, a sprawling 120-acre piece of green heaven. He and his wife, Bridget, were not just your run-of-the-mill farmers; oh no, they were military veterans, having served four years on active duty. So, you can bet your bottom dollar that these folks knew how to handle a battlefield, even if it was one full of apples and carrots.

For years, Country Mill Farms were a staple at the East Lansing Farmer's Market. People came from far and wide to snag their organic produce, but things took a wild turn when a new policy swooped in like a tornado of bureaucracy. The city, in a move that could only be described as "creative targeting," decided to give Country Mill a run for their heirloom tomatoes. Lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sprang into action, and a legal rodeo was born. 🤠🥦

Hold on to your pitchforks, because here's where it gets juicy: Steve had a little Facebook rendezvous with his thoughts on marriage. Turns out, according to his Catholic playbook, marriage was a one-man-one-woman affair. And he wasn't shy about it! 🤵‍♂️👰

East Lansing officials didn't take too kindly to this digital revelation. In a move that had them strutting into court like peacocks, they decided to oust Steve from the market. But Steve, oh plucky Steve, wasn't about to let his farm-fresh dreams be squashed like a bug on a windshield. He donned his farmer armor and sued the city faster than you can say "corn on the cob." 🌽🛡️

Fast forward through six years of legal back-and-forths, courtroom drama that could rival an episode of a telenovela, and more paperwork than a hay bale could hold, and guess what? Steve won! 🏆🥳

The court ruled that Steve and his family were unfairly forced to choose between their religious beliefs and their farm market mojo. The city's actions were deemed as unconstitutional as trying to milk a bull. The court even whipped out the big guns, citing the good ol' U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Denying someone their fair share of rights because of their faith? Not cool, East Lansing! 🤯📜

But wait, there's more! In a plot twist that even the most seasoned soap opera writers would envy, Steve wasn't just fighting for his apple empire. He was fighting for all of us! As Kate Anderson, senior counsel for ADF, put it, "It's about all of us being able to live according to our religious beliefs." 🙏🌈

So there you have it, folks. The saga of Steve Tennes, the fearless farmer who stood up for his fruits, veggies, and his unwavering belief that weddings were a sacred dance between one man, one woman, and a whole lot of confetti. 🎉👨‍❤️‍👨👩‍❤️‍👩

And as for Steve? Well, he's ready to put this legal circus behind him and get back to what he does best: slinging veggies and serving folks from all walks of life at the farmer's market. Because when it comes down to it, isn't that what this crazy journey was all about? 🥦🎪