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Sailers receive aid from Farm Rescue
By William D. O’Dell Kevin and Connie Sailer’s farm was the third stop on the inaugural journey of Farm Rescue across the state as the non-profit organization plants crops for Kevin Sailer received a second severe concussion on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005 when a horse fell over with Kevin on its back. Kevin was in the intensive care unit for nine days before he was moved to the rehabilitation unit and was released for home rehab in late September. Shortly after the accident, a group of neighboring farmers gathered at Kevin’s farm to help bale his hay and work the rest of his fields since he would not be in any shape to do so for quite awhile after the accident. “We heard about Farm Rescue within a week of getting home from the hospital,” Connie said. “We thought Kevin would be more at 100 percent by the springtime.” She added that she was reminded about Farm Rescue again later when she got the application from a neighbor and then looked at the Web site. The Sailers did not get their application in until the last minute – it was postmarked on the application deadline day of March 15. Farm Rescue founder and president Bill Gross said the people who really need the help are the most reluctant to ask and most of them applied at the last minute as well. “Farmers are proud independent people,” Gross said. He added that farmers should not be hesitant or reluctant to apply since all medical and financial information is kept confidential. Farm Rescue volunteers planted 630 acres of wheat for the Sailers last week. The only expenses that the Sailers incurred were for the seed and fertilizers; Farm Rescue supplied the equipment, fuel and time through donations. “We are very thankful for Farm Rescue and all the sponsors,” she said about the volunteers and for the equipment. Local organizations that have donated money, equipment or other services include Cenex of Beulah, Halliday Farmers Elevator and Basin Electric Power Cooperative as well as statewide organizations, Farm Credit Services and North Dakota Farmers Union among others. “It’s hard to describe, you wouldn’t even dream of something like this, someone would come in and help you this much,” Kevin said. “It’s hard to accept this,” Connie said. “It’s a lot,” Kevin said. “It makes a person realize how many nice people are still around.” Connie said that Farm Rescue planting the crops has taken a lot of stress off the family, “because Kevin is still not at 100 percent. We’re very grateful.” Kevin said the doctors never expected him to recover this far or this quick. Connie added that as long as he gets his rest he does well. In addition to getting his rest, Kevin has been taking more safety precautions and takes thing a little slower so that there is no third injury. “Still can’t outrun a cow,” Kevin said, which made everyone laugh. Connie said the ranching end of their farming/ranching operation keeps Kevin occupied. She added, “That’s enough for him right now.” Later this spring, Kevin’s two sons, Justin and Jason, will help put in the oats and barley. Gross explained that for the first seven farming operations Farm Rescue planted only wheat but will be switching to soybeans as they near Originally from He explained that as a UPS pilot, he will be required to retire by 60 and was often asked what he would do upon retirement. The plan to help farmers was what he always told those who had questioned him until they then started to tell him that he should start it sooner. He was also told to think bigger and to make a non-profit organization. About a year later, the idea had blossomed into an all volunteer-run organization with sponsors and individuals that would put in funds to help farmers across the whole state. The organization’s motto of “Helping family farmers in crisis” was soon born. Farm Rescue was incorporated as a non-profit organization Jan. 1, 2005, after Gross was able to convince many sponsors about what he proposed to do. The initial base-level sponsors were key to getting the organization off the ground. “If it was not for some of these sponsors, there is no way that we would be able to operate on the scale that we do,” Gross said. “Through funding of sponsors, we put in the crops free of charge.” He explained that many sponsors just donate money, supplies or services, however, without RDO Equipment Co. the volunteers might not be able to function on that grand scale. According to Gross, RDO not only provides the equipment required for the no-till planting but also for the maintenance and transportation of that equipment. RDO is the exclusive equipment sponsor that provides the John Deere equipment. In addition to the corporate sponsors, there are a number of volunteers who provide their time and labor to help the farmers. Included in those volunteers are Gross, Bill Krumwiede and one of Gross’s fellow UND alum and pilot Jack Limke. As for the 10 farming operations Farm Rescue is helping this year, the range of injuries vary from severed limbs to cancer while their locations range from Dickinson to Jamestown. Gross and the other volunteers started in Gross explained that in the formal selection process, a farmer submits an application with their medical and financial information. The applications are reviewed by the Farm Rescue board, which includes a farmer, a banker, an administrator from the North Department of Agriculture, an NDSU Extension Service Agent, a Farm Service Agency loan manager and Gross. The criteria besides being involved in a major injury or with a major illness is for the farmer to be a small to average size farmer who has a viable farming operation. Gross said the organization would not help a farming operation that was large enough to be able to hire outside help. “I really feel it’s a win-win situation,” Gross said. “The farmers receive assistance and businesses can now help farmers who need help and can get some public recognition.” Gross added that Farm Rescue has helped to expand the definition of neighbor since some funds that businesses have donated are now helping not only their direct neighbor, but neighbors on the other side of the state. “It takes some of the burden off of the individual farmers,” Gross said. According to Gross, the demographics and economics of family farming have made it more difficult for neighbors to help neighbors. “It’s tough,” he said, “Farm Rescue can kind of fill in the gap.” Additionally, Gross said that the organization is creating a statewide and even nationwide buzz about the plight of family farmers in Reprinted with permission of the Beulah Beacon. May 11, 2006 |
