|
|
|
Volunteers from Farm Rescue are working hard to harvest 320 acres of wheat just north of
Nonprofit group
Farm Rescue is a nonprofit organization that helps seed and harvest fields for farmers who have suffered severe injuries, illness or natural disaster. The group has about 50 volunteers, some from out of state.
“We plant and harvest the crops completely free of charge,” said Farm Rescue founder Bill Gross,
“The demographics of family farms has changed over the years,” Gross said. “There are less kids in the families who can help with the farm work, and when a major crisis comes, it's harder for neighbors to help.”
Farmer's story
Erovick became ill in July 2006 and has been in and out of hospitals ever since.
He was diagnosed with a kidney disease and later informed that his liver also was not fully functioning anymore because of complications from his illness.
“He was right at the top of the list for a transplant, and then he got an infection,” said Jay Cudmore,
Erovick is overcoming the infection and will be back on the transplant waiting list soon. He waited on the list for about six months before the infection.
“There have been several times the doctors said he wouldn't make it,” Cudmore said. “But he always springs right back.”
“We've rushed to the hospital many times because they've called us and said he won't make it,” said Susan Thomasson, Erovick's sister. “But he keeps plugging away.”
Six Farm Rescue volunteers have been out in the field since Saturday along with Cudmore and members of Erovick's family.
Farm Rescue helps farmers all over
Farmers who are unable to plant or harvest their own crops can apply for the program, which is free of charge to them.
Others help, too
RDO Equipment Co.,
Cenex Harvest States in
“We don't give money to farmers,” Gross said. “It's not for farmers who are going bankrupt.”
Founded in 2005
The organization was started in 2005 and started its field work in 2006, planting 10 fields. This year, the group has planted 14 fields and is harvesting at least six.
Farm Rescue has helped farmers with severed limbs from farming accidents, severe burns from farm vehicle fires and injuries from car accidents, just to name a few.
“Sometimes, people think it's just too good to be true,” Gross said.
Susan Thomasson, lives near her brother's fields and has been taking care of volunteers while they work.
“She's been putting us up and feeding us,” said volunteer Bill Krumwiede,
“The family is very grateful to Farm Rescue,” said Fred Thomasson, Erovick's brother-in-law. “This is fantastic. I don't know how it would've gotten done.”
“They are so nice to take time away from their families and their lives to help others,” Susan Thomasson said. “It's such a nice bunch of men.”
Krumwiede expects that it will take about 10 hours to harvest the 140 acres the group currently is working on.
The crew hopes for good weather so it can finish that field today and move on to another of Erovick's wheat fields. Krumwiede estimated he and the volunteers combine 15 acres per hour.
Cudmore helped Erovick seed his fields in the spring.
“Timmy was well enough last spring to help with a lot of his seeding,” he said.
Cudmore put in the application to Farm Rescue for Erovick. Farmers can apply for Farm Rescue online at www.farmrescue.org.
“It's not too late yet this year to apply for harvesting assistance,” Gross said.
“He is awfully happy,” Cudmore said of Erovick. “I think he cried a little bit when he found out they were doing this for him.”
Reach Gibson at lgibson@gfherald.com.
Reprinted with permission of Grand Forks Herald. August 20, 2007