It is easy to walk into a supermarket and take the food lining the shelves for granted. We live in a time of abundant food; one in which few give a second thought to the farmers who make our meals possible. We assume that when we want milk, it will be available. Craving a burger? There are a multitude of locations to find your fix. Many of us have not had to endure the pains of hunger or the uncertainty of not knowing where our next meal was coming from. We drive past farm land on a regular basis. How many among us have stopped to offer a hearty thank you to the farmers toiling away in their fields? It is easy to settle into a comfortable life and forget the people that have helped make that happen. Especially for us in the Midwest, it all began in the fields. We stand upon our agricultural legacy with pride; yet so often neglect to share that pride with those that deserve it most. As Daniel Webster said, “Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization.”
Like all of us, farmers are not immune to tragedy. The very nature of farming yields a certain degree of insecurity. No other profession is as vulnerable to conditions completely out of their control. Add to that the real-life struggles that come from simply being human and even the most dedicated and steadfast farmer needs help. Fortunately, that is where Farm Rescue comes in. Farm Rescue is a non-profit organization that plants, harvests, and hays crops free of charge for farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and eastern Montana who have suffered a major illness, injury, or natural disaster. The program was started in 2005 by North Dakota native Bill Gross, a full-time pilot for UPS Airlines. As Gross flew over the country’s farmland, he was troubled by the changing demographics of rural America. Unlike those who notice problems and sit idly by, Gross decided to do something about it. Shortly after, Farm Rescue was born.
According to Danielle Abbas, Farm Rescue Marketing and Communications Coordinator, 110 volunteers helped 50 farm families in 2013 – 31 in North Dakota, 10 in South Dakota, 5 in Iowa, and 4 in Minnesota. The program has already assisted 25 families in 2014 and is well on their way of breaking their goal of aiding 50. Farm Rescue is very excited to add haying assistance to the program this year. “We have had requests for haying assistance in the past,” Abbas explained, “and decided it was time to offer it.” The additional service is thanks in large part to RDO Equipment’s donation of a John Deere tractor and John Deere round baler. RDO is one of a number of local supporters that have been instrumental in the program’s success.
In addition to RDO, the Helmsley Charitable Trust and the Otto Bremer Foundation have also recently shown their continued support for the Farm Rescue program. According to Abbas, the Otto Bremer Foundation grant is delegated toward general operating expenses. The Helmsley Charitable Trust donation, on the other hand, “provides funding for increased capacity at Farm Rescue to better serve farm families in need through strategic and development planning as well as the creation of a development officer position.”
Although financial support is obviously necessary for Farm Rescue to continue providing support to area farmers, the heart and soul of the program lies within the volunteers. It is the selfless contributions of other farmers that make it possible for Farm Rescue to fulfill its mission. Farmers are connected by silent bonds that exist between members of a like community. Nobody else is able to understand the tenuous nature of the profession more than farmers. When one of their own is in need, the farmers come. “The bonds that the volunteers establish with the farmers they help are amazing,” Abbas said. “They meet as strangers, but after a few days, they have built a friendship that last years.” The attitude these farmers have in regards to helping their own is similar to the military motto of “No man left behind.” It is the hope of Farm Rescue that no farmer will ever be left behind again.
Matt Klemetson of Ulen, Minnesota knows first-hand how instrumental Farm Rescue can be in preserving the livelihood of an area farmer. In 2012, Klemetson found himself caring for his wife, Staci, who was battling a progressive form of cancer. At the time, Klemetson and his family farmed 620 acres, much of it on a farm that had been in the family since 1930. After his wife became ill, the prospect of successfully planting his farm while caring for his wife and their five children seemed impossible. Thanks to Farm Rescue, however, the impossible became a reality. Volunteers planted 200 acres of corn and 420 acres of soybeans, some volunteers coming from as far away as Atlanta, Georgia. “The volunteers were very caring and concerned,” Klemetson said in 2012 interview. “There was a general interest in wanting to help.” Although Staci Klemetson tragically passed away shortly after the fields were planted, Matt was able to save his farm and continue pursuing his passion. Without the efforts of Farm Rescue, that likely wouldn’t have been possible.
There isn’t a person among us who hasn’t needed help at one point or another. Unlike farmers, however, we are usually able to call in sick to work or take time off when tragedy hits. Farmers do not have that luxury, something that often makes the prospect of balancing work and home appear overwhelmingly daunting. Farm Rescue is a program dedicated to making sure the next farmer in need of help does not have to face his/her battle alone. As the program’s mission says, “Our mission is to help family farmers bridge crises so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations.” Without that bridge, many farmers would have trouble staying afloat. If that happened across the board, it may not be so easy to walk into the grocery store and pick up a gallon of milk. Farmers have dedicated their lives to providing that which we largely take for granted. Volunteering with a program like Farm Rescue is just one way to say thank you. Our farmers deserve much more, but it is a great place to start.
“Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.”
~ James H. Douglas
For more information about Farm Rescue, including ways you can help, visit www.farmrescue.org.
