Rangeviews
Worldwide neighbors helping neighbors
Farmers and ranchers have always looked out for one another. In 2005 when our area was in the midst of a nine-year drought, Matt Janowiak from Colorado and his brother, Stan, a farmer in Wisconsin, came up with the Wisconsin-Colorado Haylift. Wisconsin had more hay than they knew what to do with and Colorado was in a bad hurt. A retired farmer names Jerry Pietron from Larimore, ND donated 2,000 acres of uncut hay to farmers in North Dakota. The farmers harvested the hay and used it for their cattle.
When a farmer or rancher is unable to plant, harvest, work his land or cattle, neighbors and friends step in. We had that scenario play out for our family when my husband was called up to active duty during Desert Storm. It is heartwarming to know people are so willing to help.
It shows that agricultural people have been “paying it forward” for generations. It’s just the way we are. We help others; they help us. When reading current news reports, one could get the idea that “paying it forward” is a new concept, but of course it is not.
After the winter storm Atlas 2013, we saw that individuals and organizations from around the world also cared. The Rancher Relief Fund, run through the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF), Rapid City, received funds from more than 5,000 donors. These donations amounted to more than 4 million dollars. What a remarkable outpouring to the ag. community!
When the project was announced, it was hoped that one million dollars would be received. With the cooperation of SD Cattlemen, SD Sheep Growers, SD Stockgrowers, Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Social Services and the BHACF, a far greater impact than was imagined was achieved.
Another project after Atlas was Heifers for South Dakota, started by ranchers in Montana. These donations had four legs and were delivered on the hoof to ranchers who lost cattle in the blizzard. Cattle came from other ranchers in South Dakota, Montana, Utah, West Virginia, Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Minnesota and North Dakota. They were not just cattle, these ranchers sent their best. As stated by Heifers for South Dakota, “They were quality animals that you would be proud to own, and we gladly helped them be donated to someone who has suffered because of this blizzard.”
These donors did not wish to send their castoffs or less than perfect cattle to show support for these devastated ranchers. They wanted to send solid, herd-building cattle to replace the lost ones. That is just how things are done by agricultural people. South Dakotans know if something catastrophic happens to agricultural producers in other states, we will help out and neighboring states will again pitch in.
Donors and recipients were grateful for the caring, sharing attitudes of these neighbors from around the world and will gladly return the favor.
Peggy is a national-award winning columnist who writes from the farm in southwest South Dakota. peggy@peggysanders.com