Ag Community Rallies in Wildfire Relief
When devastation strikes, the true core of a community is revealed; no matter the size. Most anyone in the agriculture sector will admit (at any given time) that there is a special camaraderie, or if you will, a sense of community within the industry. This proved most evident during the March 2017 wildfires that wreaked havoc in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Despite the lack of attention from the mainstream media, the agriculture community responded with donations of hay, supplies, and labor to help those affected start on the road to recovery.
To no surprise, several of our customers and local cattlemen recently stepped up to the plate to help as well. We sold approximately 1 mile of barb wire fence at a discounted rate to Rich and Sheila Burr-Lone Tree, Art and Shari Sweeting-Riverside, Jeff Bohr and Jim Bohr-Wellman, and KDK Sales & Equipment, LLC-Washington; which they turned around and donated to the wildfire effort. On April 9th former employee and cattleman, Greg Koch, along with Clint Sandburg traveled to Ashland, Kansas to deliver the fence and volunteer labor. Below is Greg’s account of the experience.
The fire disaster assistance trip to Kansas was a very rewarding experience. Pictures can’t do justice to the scope of the damage and hearing stories from the people affected certainly
gave me a new respect for fire. Clint and I spent time tearing out old fence, rolling up the charred wire and removing what was left of the old posts; most of which were burnt off at the ground or in some cases totally gone with just the staples laying on the ground to show where the posts once were. We also cut pipe for H-braces, set fence corners, and stretched wire.We worked for the Giles Ranch North of Ashland. They lost 3 houses, their shop, machinery, somewhere around 1,000 head of cattle and over 300 miles of fence on their 30,000 acres. That country is big, rough, and sandy. The grass is starting to come back pretty well in some spots but many of the hills are blow sand that had a pretty good fuel load. Those areas are barren and blowing sand. It will be a long time recovering.
Everywhere we went, we heard expressions of gratitude. From the convenience store clerk who wouldn’t let me pay for my pizza/drink to the ranchers and community members. The agriculture community has rallied and come together to lend a hand like very few others could. There are good people in that part of the world and Clint and I both feel blessed to have played a tiny part. Thanks to Stutsmans for working with us to put this trip together; the folks in the fire region really appreciate it.” -Greg Koch, Washington, Iowa
We are truly blessed to be a part of the agriculture industry, where hearts are as big as the work ethic is strong and the sense of community is as obvious as ever.
Want to donate? Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association is currently in the process of collecting funds to purchase more supplies to send to the affected region. Contact a Johnson County Cattleman’s Association representative for more information.