Hundreds of people packed an auditorium at Chippewa Valley Technical College Wednesday morning for the first public hearing on the selling of raw milk.

The hearing was all about the public being able to come forward and share their thoughts, both for and against a legislative bill, which would make selling raw milk legal.

Petra Brokken gave birth to her daughter Saskia nearly four months early. She weighed a little more than a pound.

Her mom calls her a miracle, and she attributes her daughter’s growth and health, now six years later, to raw milk, “I have absolutely no hesitation in giving this to my micro preemie daughter, she has absolutely thrived on this,” Petra says.

Today Petra came from Minnesota to join hundreds of others in support of the raw milk bill, sponsored by Senator Pat Kreitlow and Representative Chris Danou. “If a consumer wants to purchase directly from the farmer that should be allowed to happen without government interference, “Kreitlow tells us.

And that in a nutshell, sums up what the bill aims for, the ability for farmers to sell directly to consumers, without breaking the law.

But Steve Ingham from the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection says the reason why the bill shouldn't pass, is purely a safety issue. “Our job is to protect public health and we think there’s a significant risk of food borne illness linked to unpasteurized milk, “Ingham says.

A debatable issue between those at Wednesday’s hearing, many of whom liken raw milk to the organic food movement.

“That's why we want to eat organic food and drink raw milk because it's extremely natural, all of the good qualities have not been burned out or boiled out,” Vegetable farmer Joan Warsinski says.

Most of the argument over raw milk boils down to the health factor, proponents say it’s tastier and healthier, but opponents say it can make people sick and in some rare cases it’s even killed people.

Senator Kreitlow says there's only six weeks left in the legislative session, which means its cutting it close to get this bill voted on and passed on the senate floor.