Farm Rescue 2007 Operations to Begin in Tri-State Region

Farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota to receive assistance

JAMESTOWN, N.D., April 5, 2007 — Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization founded to help family farmers sidelined by a major injury, illness or natural disaster, announced its selection of 12 farmers who will be receiving free planting assistance this spring. Ten of the selected farmers are in North Dakota. The other two are in South Dakota and Minnesota. 

The 12 farmers represent cases including broken backs, broken wrists, stroke, spinal cord surgery, brain tumor, cancer treatments, knee replacement, heart transplants and farmstead destruction due to a tornado.

Farm Rescue has the capacity to help 14 farmers with planting during the spring of 2007.

"We were at full capacity early in the 2006 planting season,” said Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue. “This year, the board of directors has decided to reserve two slots for critical injury or illness cases, which may arise during the planting season."  

Farm Rescue’s operations are made possible by a group of good-hearted volunteers and sponsor businesses who support the tradition of family farming.  Currently, 63 sponsors support the program. This is a 110 percent increase in sponsors within one year. 

The most recent businesses to join as sponsors include:
· Bremer Bank (all North Dakota locations).
· Cenex (Bismarck/Mandan, ND).
·     Dakota Central Telecommunications (Carrington, ND).
·     Farmers Union Coop. (Butte-Drake-Velva, ND).
·     Fred's Farm Supply (Edgeley, ND).
·     North Central Grain Coop. (Bisbee, ND).
·     Stan Puklich Chevrolet (Bismarck, ND). 
·     Seeds 2000 (Breckenridge, MN).
·     Sign D'zyn (Minot, ND).
· Superior, Inc. (Kindred, ND).
· Walmart (Jamestown & Grand Forks, ND and Aberdeen, SD).

Sponsors, the media and the general public are invited to attend the launching of Farm Rescue 2007 operations.  Farm Rescue operations will begin on April 12 at 11:00AM (Central Time) on the Justin Metzger Farm located seven miles south of Eureka, South Dakota on the west side of Highway 47   (blue/white buildings).  This farmstead is being rebuilt due to destruction from a tornado. Farm Rescue volunteers, sponsors and the Metzger family will be present during this event.

The event may be rescheduled due to severe weather. Any changes to the schedule or activities will be posted at www.farmrescue.org no later than 5:00AM (Central Time) on April 12.

For additional information, visit the Farm Rescue website at www.farmrescue.org or call (701) 526-0947.  There is a new phone number dedicated to media personnel only: (701) 526-3448.   Media personnel may use this number to obtain up-to-date location and news of Farm Rescue operations.