Founder of Farm Rescue calls first year of program, which helped 10
North Dakota farmers, a success
By Kelly Stone
Agweek Staff Writer
WALHALLA, N.D. — Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue, is
calling its first season a success.
“As a new organization, some people were uncertain how it would turn
out,” he admits. “We did select 10 farmers, and we assisted 10 farmers.
I’d say we did what we said we would do.”
Gross is standing in the middle of a Walhalla, N.D., area farmyard
surrounded by men and machinery. They’ve gathered to plant 300 acres of
pinto beans for farmer Brian Hardy, who was injured when a field
cultivator fell on him May 11. Gross says it’s a classic example of what
Farm Rescue is designed to do.
How it works
Farmers apply for help by filling out an online application at
www.farmrescue.org. This year, 16 farmers applied. Gross expects more
next year once word spreads about the program.
Its selection committee is made up of people from the state ag mediation
service, the Farm Service Agency and North Dakota State University’s
Extension Service, as well as a professional banker.
“We also have what we call a ‘real farmer,’” Gross adds, “someone who
has farmed for over 30 years.”
Thorough research
Gross says the group conducts thorough research, making sure it’s
helping farmers who fit the organization’s goals. Applicants must agree
to disclose certain information to the committee. They check financial
and Farm Service Agency records to make sure the farming operation is
viable. They check medical records to verify that the illness or injury
is significant enough to prevent the farmer from finishing his own
fieldwork.
“Some people have tried to claim that their partner was ill when it was
really their landlord,” Gross says. “Some people have tried to divide up
their farm on paper. We had people go out into the communities and ask
some questions, and that’s how we found which ones weren’t legitimate
applications for this organization.”
Volunteers
As a nonprofit organization, Farm Rescue is staffed entirely by
volunteers. This year, about 30 people volunteered time as equipment
operators, marketing and fundraising personnel, Web site and brochure
designers and members of the board of directors.
Joe Dethlafsen, a retired farmer from Oakes, N.D., showed up at Hardy’s
farm to help operate planting equipment.
“It’s kind of a neighbor-to-neighbor thing,” he says. “Five years ago,
my wife got cancer and had just a short time to live. While I was taking
care of her, my neighbors came in with about nine combines and took off
the rest of my wheat. I appreciated that,” he adds soberly.
Dethlafsen says volunteering with Farm Rescue also has allowed him to
see more of North Dakota. Fellow volunteer Bill Krumwiede of Voltaire,
N.D., agrees.
“This looks kind of like the Red River Valley up here,” he observes,
“but there’s more trees and it’s a little hillier yet. It’s prettier
country up here.”
The idea of neighbor helping neighbor comes up again.
“The good Lord’s been good to me, so I figured I could help some other
people,” Krumwiede says.
Norm Martineau works for RDO, one of Farm Rescue’s major sponsors, but
he came to Hardy’s farm for more personal reasons.
“I’m originally from Walhalla, and I grew up with Brian,” he smiles.
RDO supplied the seeding equipment used to finish up Hardy’s planting.
Hardy’s accident happened just as planting season was getting under way.
He farms about 4,500 acres of land with his brother, father and son,
growing spring wheat, canola and sunflowers, plus the pinto beans.
“When I got hurt, we had quite a few acres left,” he says from his
hospital room in Cavalier, N.D. “My dad and brother and son put in a lot
of extra effort.”
Hardy says he probably would have had to hire additional workers to
finish the pinto bean planting if Farm Rescue hadn’t stepped in to help.
“It really takes a lot of pressure off, knowing it’s going to get done,”
he nods.“They seem like a real good organization from what I’m seeing.”
Hardy has three broken vertebrae and will wear a back brace nonstop for
three months, then at least part-time for another three months. He also
has a huge, jagged v-shaped cut on his knee where the cultivator’s
shovel gouged him.”
Next season
Gross expects to be just as busy running Farm Rescue next planting season.
“We’ll do at least the same number next year, we’re going to plan on
doing a bit more, actually,” he says. “We did 10, I’d like to do 12 or 15.”
Corporate sponsors provide the biggest chunk of operating money for the
organization. Individuals interested in donating can find contact
information on the group’s Web site: www.farmrescue.org.
Additional funds will be raised Aug. 24 at a golf tournament at Rose
Creek Golf Course in Fargo, N.D. Gross says participants need to
pre-register for the event by calling Rose Creek at (701) 235-5100.
Reprinted with permission of AGWEEK. June12, 2006
