We are seeing increasing stories about this sort of nonsense (including the other local farm Jon Katz mentioned, which is not far from me). I do think, though, that these instances are getting a lot of media time because it stirs things up and leads to "clicks." I would be willing to bet that public opinion in Setauket (an area I'm familiar with) is running well in favor of the farmer and that most think of Sherriton as a ninny.
Interesting, Katz' postscript that Minnie the cow has been moved off the farm and its owner will no discuss her further. Hopefully, silly Sherriton and her supporters raised a boatload of cash and bought Minnie, and the farmer made out like a bandit.