Farm Rescue Has Reached Halfway Point of Spring Planting

Nonprofit organization has assisted 15 of 28 cases during past month

JAMESTOWN, N.D., May 8, 2008 - Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization founded to help farm families that have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster, announced that it has successfully completed more than half of this year's spring planting. The organization began the 2008 planting season on April 7 in western North Dakota. In just one short month, 15 of the 28 selected farm families have already been assisted.

The farmers, who received planting assistance so far this spring, have endured a wide variety of injuries, illnesses and natural disasters. The completed cases include: broken legs, broken ribs, head injuries, heart surgery, cancer treatments, dialysis, back surgery, hip replacement, stroke recovery, and rebuilding after tornado destruction. Each of these hardships has kept the farmers from the field.

Farm Rescue has year-to-date provided assistance in the following communities throughout North Dakota (Arnegard, Balfour, Deering, Ellendale, Forbes, Halliday, Hazelton, LaMoure, Napoleon, New Rockford, Strasburg, and Wishek) and South Dakota (Eureka and Trail City).

Farm Rescue field operations are composed entirely of volunteers which are the heart and soul of the organization. Volunteers from all over the United States have come to help Farm Rescue complete its expanded operations this year. However, the majority of volunteers are from the upper Midwest region.

Volunteers provide the man power while donations from businesses and individuals help fund overall operations. Several companies have followed the lead of RDO Equipment Co. to become Farm Rescue sponsors. Bremer, Newman Signs, UPS, CHS Country Operations, Capital RV, Stan Puklich Chevrolet, Lamar, North Dakota Farmers Union and Select Heartland Chevy Dealers are the largest sponsors of the program.

With the planting season half completed for Farm Rescue, operations have shifted from wheat to soybean planting. As the organization moves from west to east and into South Dakota, a few things remain the same, farm families continue to be helped and the weather continues to be a constant challenge.

"Field operations have been very challenging this year. Planting was temporarily suspended by snow and sleet in late April.  We are working as quickly as we possible and planting 24 hours a day during good weather," said Bill Gross, President and Founder of Farm Rescue. "Despite weather delays, we are still on schedule to complete planting operations by June 1."

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or apply for assistance; visit the Farm Rescue website at www.farmrescue.org or call (701) 252-2017, or email info@farmrescue.org.

Contact:
Christina Hood, Director of Operations, Farm Rescue
Bill Gross, President, Farm Rescue
(701) 212-7672  

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