Farm Rescue Successful in Helping North Dakota Family Farms in Crisis

Plans are already underway to expand operations

Nonprofit Farm Rescue today announced that it successfully completed spring planting for 10 family farms throughout North Dakota. The organization also announced its intention to increase the number of farmers who will receive assistance in 2007 and has planned two events to help raise funds.

Farm Rescue's mission is to provide planting assistance free of charge to family farmers who have experienced a major illness, injury or act of nature that has caused financial hardship.

The farmers who received planting assistance this spring were: Matt Biel (Dickinson); Emil Fandrich (Richardton); Kevin Sailer (Dodge); Tom Ahmann (Foxholm); Lowell Hartvickson (Willow City); Kelly Smeltzer (Cando): Jeff Bata (Kensal); Dewayne Heil (Ashley); Charles Loll (Wapheton); and Brian Hardy (Walhalla). Planting to assist these farmers began on April 11 and was completed on June 1.

Three farmers, Matt Biel, Emil Fandrich and Lowell Hartvickson, had severed arms due to farm accidents. Tom Ahmann and Dewayne Heil were undergoing cancer treatments. Kevin Sailer suffered severe head injuries from a horse riding accident. Kelly Smeltzer received multiple injuries when a large tree fell on him. Jeff Bata injured his eyes in a workshop accident. Both Charles Loll and Brian Hardy suffered extensive back injuries when farm equipment fell on them.

Farm Rescue is operated entirely by volunteers, but donations from businesses and individuals help fund overall operations. Several companies have followed the lead of RDO Equipment Co. to become Farm Rescue sponsors. There are presently 41 sponsors that support the program.

The most recent businesses to join on as sponsors include:

• Cenex (Beulah)
• Central Power Electric Cooperative (Minot)
• Farmers Union Oil (Jamestown)
• Farmers Grain & Oil (Cando)
• First Western Bank & Trust (Minot)
• Gross Farm & Ranch (Carrington)
• South Central Grain (Napoleon)
• Southwest Grain (Dickinson)
• SRT Communications (Minot)
• Sun Prairie Grain (Minot)
• Unison (Jamestown)
• Wiest Truck Line (Jamestown).

“Farm Rescue has received very positive support from businesses and individuals all across North Dakota,” said founder and president of Farm Rescue, Bill Gross. “We followed through on what we promised. Our first year of operation was a major success thanks to our generous volunteers and sponsors."

Two Fundraising Events

Farm Rescue has plans to increase the number of family farmers who will receive assistance in 2007. Two fundraising events are scheduled to help the organization raise operating funds for possible fall harvesting assistance, as well as for next year's spring planting.

The first annual Farm Rescue golf tournament will be held on August 24 at the Rose Creek golf course in Fargo, North Dakota.

The event will be a four person scramble with on course contests for a chance to win

a 2006 Chevy truck, a John Deere ATV, a round-trip airline ticket, and $750 in gift certificates. There will also be an awards ceremony following the event. Food and beverages at the awards ceremony are included in the price of the golf tournament. The cost is $100. Registration is at noon with tee off at 1:00pm. Call 701-235-5100 for reservations.

The first annual Farm Rescue hunting raffle drawing will be held on October 2 in Jamestown, North Dakota. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase from June 10 – Sept. 30. The cost per ticket is $50. There will be ten winning raffle tickets. Each winning raffle ticket will include one week of hunting access for five people. The hunting locations are mainly in western and northern North Dakota. Five of the hunting access vacancies are in Minnesota.

Visit www.farmrescue.org for additional information on the first annual Farm Rescue golf tournament and to purchase hunting raffle tickets. The Farm Rescue phone number is 701-526-0947.

Contact:

Farm Rescue

Bill Gross, president & founder

701-526-0947