Eye on Agriculture - Farm Rescue - A Season of Growth

May 8 2008 8:07PM
KXMCTV Minot

It's the wrong time for a season ending injury for a farmer

That's exactly what happened to Paul Grilley.

One day before Paul was to head out into the field to start spring planting, he fell from the top of his seed truck breaking his leg above the knee.

(Paul Grilley, Deering Farmer) "I knew something was busted right away when I hit. (laughing)"


Sitting in his hospital room, Paul's options for planting were now limited to say the least and just getting the crop in this season was now in question.

(Paul Grilley, Deering Farmer) "The neighbors, of course they're pretty busy right now, neighbors that's about all I can count on."


But Paul's sister Linda Smette had one last option she read about a group called Farm Rescue in the Farmers Union Newsletter and thought her brother was a perfect candidate for help.

(Linda Smette, Paul's Sister) "And I called it on Monday morning at 8:30 and Mr. Gross called me back and things were set in motion."


Ironically an untimely accident fell into perfect timing for the Farm Rescue crew

They were ahead of schedule in New Rockford and had time to spare before heading to Ellendale.

(Gene Spichke, Farm Rescue Volunteer) "I really didn't hear about it until Bill called and said there was a gentlemen by Deering who broke his leg and needed help and they were just finishing up by New Rockford."


(Linda Smette, Paul's Sister) "Right now is critical time for the wheat and the barley to be in the ground."


In a matter of just a few days Farm Rescue, with their RDO John Deere Tractor, Grain Cart and 44 foot no-till drill, rolled in and rolled over 600 acres planting Paul' Barley and Wheat in just a few days.

(Gene Spichke, Farm Rescue Volunteer) "But the machine has been going seven days a week and we try to keep the machine rolling through mealtime we just change off and keep the thing rolling."


(Shaun Sipma, KX News) "For the first time since its inception Farm Rescue is running two different outfits double the size of their operation and more importantly enabling them to help even more farmers in need."


(Linda Smette, Paul's Sister) "It's a miracle, unreal."


(Paul Grilley, Deering Farmer) "It means a lot, when you're in trouble you can count on them."


With most of the crop in now Paul can concentrate on healing his broken leg, and Farm Rescue is off an running again to another of the 28 producers they assisting this season.

North of Deering, With Your Eye On Agriculture, Shaun Sipma KX News.