The state was the first to outlaw slavery, the first to legalize civil unions, and the first to pass a single-payer health care law, among other singular achievements. And it happened because of what is widely considered to be one of the most immoral events to occur in Vermont agriculture in recent ti. On October 30,the U. Department of Agriculture USDA and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture shut down Bushway Packing, a slaughterhouse in Grand Isle, having been shown a disturbing undercover video in which young dairy calves as young as a few days old were being kicked, dragged, repeatedly shocked, and in one case skinned alive by Bushway employees. It was widely noted in Vermont that this was an aberration. As a result, today a student of Temple Grandin, the renowned animal scientist, is advising Vermont slaughter facilities on how to improve conditions for animals. And a new advisory board oerreta up of representatives of the farming and animal welfare communities now meets quarterly t...