Farm Rescue program had successful first year; prepares for next season
By ELOISE OGDEN, Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com
| This photo is from Farm Rescue planting operations this past spring at the Lowell Hartvikson farm at Willow City. The Hartvikson family was the fifth of 10 farm families receiving Farm Rescue assistance, said Bill Gross, Farm Rescue founder. The organization now is planning for the 2007 farming season. |
CLEVELAND – Farm Rescue and its volunteers are already preparing for the 2007 farming season, says Bill Gross, Farm Rescue founder.
The nonprofit organization plants and harvests crops free of charge for eligible family farmers who have experienced a major illness, injury or act of nature that has caused financial hardship.
The organization’s first year of operation was a major success because of its generous volunteers and sponsors, said Gross, who grew up on a farm at Cleveland, and is a pilot for United Parcel Service. He founded the organization last year and also is a Farm Rescue volunteer.
Gross said 10 family farmers received Farm Rescue assistance during 2006.
The selected farmers were located throughout the state: Matt Biel of Dickinson; Emil Fandrich of Richardton; Kevin Sailer of Dodge; Tom Ahmann of Foxholm; Lowell Hartvikson of Willow City; Kelly Smeltzer of Cando; Jeff Bata of Kensal; Dewayne Hiel of Ashley; Charles Lowell of Wahpeton; and Brian Hardy of Walhalla.
Three farmers, Matt Biel, Emil Fandrich and Lowell Hartvikson, had severed arms due to farm accidents. Tom Ahmann and Dewayne Hiel were undergoing cancer treatments. Kevin Sailer suffered severe head injuries from a horse riding accident. Kelly Smeltzer received multiple life-threatening injuries when a large tree fell on him. Jeff Bata injured his eyes in a workshop accident, which required a corneal transplant. Both Charles Loll and Brian Hardy suffered extensive back injuries requiring hospitalization when farm equipment fell on them.
Farm Rescue has been drawing attention to the importance of this state’s family farmers, and inspiring many people to step forward and volunteer to help family farmers through the Farm Rescue program, Gross said.
He said Gov. John Hoeven issued a proclamation in recognition of the Farm Rescue nonprofit organization for helping family farmers during a time of crisis. Both Senator Kent Conrad and Senator Byron Dorgan have issued letters of support for Farm Rescue.
Farm Rescue is operated entirely by volunteers, but donations help fund overall operations. Individuals and business sponsors have been rallying behind the Farm Rescue program.
“It’s a worthy program that has very little administrative expenses and uses donated funds efficiently to help our state’s family farmers who have experienced a crisis,” Gross said.
Gross said several local companies have already followed the lead of RDO Equipment Co. to become Farm Rescue sponsors. These include Central Power Cooperative, First Western Bank & Trust, SRT Communications and Sun Prairie Grain.
He said the newest sponsors to join Farm Rescue include Dacotah Bank, Farmers Union Insurance, First Security Bank-West, Liechty Homes Inc., Peterson Farms Seed and State Farm Insurance.
“A renewed sense of hope and vision has been brought back to the region as there is now a formal organization established to help family farmers during extended times of crisis,” Gross said.
Although the nonprofit organization Farm Rescue is operated entirely by volunteers and does not distribute any funds to farmers, it does have expenses associated with planting and harvesting crops. Farm Rescue now is in the process of raising funds to help family farmers during the spring of 2007.
Donations are tax-deductible and should be mailed to Farm Rescue, P.O. Box 62, Cleveland, ND. 58424. More information may be obtained about Farm Rescue from its Web site (www.farmrescue.org) or by calling (701) 526-0947.
Farm Rescue will also be at the Minot Ag Expo Jan. 24-26, 2007, where people can find out more about the program.
Reprinted with permission of The Minot Daily News. November 24, 2006