November 20, 2017 - Counting Our Blessings
As we focus on Thanksgiving, our hearts at Farm Rescue are filled with gratitude. Once again, we have completed safe planting, haying and harvesting seasons safely. We’ve been welcomed into the hearts and homes of many, and have brought hope with us. Seeing the worry disappear from a facial expression or hearing it fall from a voice. We are reminded that these blessings are only ours because of the many businesses and individuals that support Farm Rescue. Thank you. Whether it be through time, money or goods, your impact is felt.
This week we finished up with the harvest and are putting the rest of the equipment away. Operation Hay Lift will continue, however, throughout the winter and spring months as the ranchers are still desperate for hay to winter feed. We will also start a new service this winter: Livestock Feeding Assistance. Our goal is to bring hope in yet another way to the ranchers in our service area dealing with unexpected crisis. Let us know if you want to volunteer or if you need help!
We hope you Have a Blessed Thanksgiving~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**If you have a CDL and would like to volunteer for Operation Hay Lift, please visit farmrescue.org and fill out the volunteer form!**
October 24, 2017 - There and Back Again
A tour through the Dakotas aboard a Mack truck pulling hay allows one to really feel the heart of the ranchers in crisis due to the drought this year. With my two year old as my co-pilot, I took this tour for myself, as MANY other Farm Rescue volunteers have done this season. Having grown up in South Dakota, I saw more of that state in the first 6 days than I had ever seen in my life. The beauty of the prairie and even the Black Hills gave me a new appreciation and love for my home state. I then drove into North Dakota and even MN for the remainder of the loads - seeing each quarter of the state of ND and how vastly different each one is from the other.
Not only a love for the states we serve, but also a love for the people was once again rekindled (as a Farm Rescue volunteer, this is a familiar feeling). I once again was reminded that it is not an area that Farm Rescue serves, but a population - people. Each farmer and rancher is part of a larger picture of how the world is fed. Yet each have their own style of operation, or passion within agriculture that they strive to capitalize on.
What happens to that when disaster like this drought strikes? It can be awful, and no matter how you look at it, these ranchers are going to struggle through this coming winter. Farm Rescue is taking a slice of that pain of the crisis away, so they can have hope, and in many cases, not have to sell a part of their herd that they have worked so hard to build. Our trucks are still on the road as the weather gets colder, while others may have already forgotten the drought occurred.
Having Loaded, Hauled and Unloaded 9 loads (others have done many more), I headed back home. I was much aware of the volunteers still hauling for ranchers in crisis, as well as the many volunteers we had working on our harvest cases.
The bean harvest was wrapped up and the corn harvest is starting today. We’ve helped farmers with cancer, surgeries, tornadoes, heart surgeries, farm accidents and roadway accidents. What a blessing to see our equipment and/or volunteers show up to help with their harvest when they are focused on physical recovery.
As always, I want to thank the Angels in Blue that have been hauling hay and harvesting the crop over the last weeks: Gary Krieger, Duane Wentland, John Pruessner, Bill Yankee, Kenneth Chyle, Emil Baranko, Tom Wilson, Eden Baer, Glen Haekenkamp, Michael Willits, Shaun Sundberg, Ben Rayl, James Swindell, Charlie Bartsch, Eldon Cresap, Lee Van Ruler, Garrett Van Asperen, Doug Hillstrom, Beau Kersten, Jamie Bos, Dave Hertel, Alen Enger, Will Rudolphi, and Dale Lamphere. We could not do it without you!
Other Farm Rescuers that we could do nothing without are our sponsors and donors. We are humbled each time to think of those who are financially supporting our mission. Please visit our sponsor page at farmrescue.org to view all of our sponsors.
In closing, remember that America and much of the world depends on these farm and ranch families for sustenance, and Farm Rescue works to ensure their survival despite widespread or individual crises. You can help and be a Farm Rescuer as well by donating or sharing our mission with others. Thank you!
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**If you have a CDL and would like to volunteer for Operation Hay Lift, please visit farmrescue.org and fill out the volunteer form!**
September 29, 2017 - No Turning Back
Operation Hay Lift is still trucking hope to many ranchers in need. So far, Farm Rescue volunteers have hauled nearly 100 loads of hay to over 40 ranch families in crisis. That number is bound to increase with 5 trucks moving simultaneously in the coming weeks. The fact that 10 assistance cases were completed within the past 8 days is a pretty big accomplishment, since many loads are traveling across one or two states before arriving at their destination. Volunteers have logged many hours delivering hay to producers in the Dakotas, including our most recent stop at a ranch near Onida, SD. As we prepare to dive head first into the soybean harvest, we're reminded of how blessed we are to have this amazing family of volunteers. Without their help, our mission would not be possible. THANK YOU to each and every Angel in Blue!
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**If you have a CDL and would like to volunteer for Operation Hay Lift, please visit farmrescue.org and fill out the volunteer form!**
September 19, 2017 - Hay, Harvest & Many Helping Hands
It's been awhile since our last update and that's directly related to the nonstop action at Farm Rescue! It seems in the blink of an eye our hard working Angels in Blue have wrapped up the small grains harvest for 2017. Their whirlwind tour recently made stops in Minnewauken, Rolette, Karlsruhe, Mohall and Powers Lake in North Dakota to assist farmers in crisis. As we catch our breath, preparations are already underway for the upcoming corn and soybean harvest.
And if that wasn't enough to keep us busy, Operation Hay Lift has been trucking almost nonstop, providing hay hauling services to ranchers affected by the drought. Our dedicated CDL driver volunteers have delivered more than 70 loads of cattle feed across the region, with MANY more to go! We're moving full speed ahead, with 5 trucks, hauling 7 days a week.
Of course none of these efforts would be possible without our fantastic army of volunteers. A very special thank you goes out to Levi Wielenga, John Robertson, Jerry Christians, Michael Ziegler, Andy Wittenburg, Sheldon Weinert, Claude Sem, Shaun Sipma, Glen Haekenkamp and dozens of others who have kept our equipment moving in the field and on the road!
Special thanks to RDO Equipment Company, RDO Truck Centers, Haybuster, ATS and all of our sponsors for supporting this life-changing work throughout our service area. We appreciate each and every one of you!
There are still many miles ahead for Operation Hay Lift and we are always looking for CDL volunteers to assist with the journey. If you or someone you know are interested in getting behind the wheel for this great cause, please fill out the volunteer form on this site!
Until next time, be blessed!
August 21, 2017 - When the Dew Dries
Along with our ongoing Operation Hay Lift endeavors, Farm Rescue combines are on the move again as well. Today we start harvesting near Braddock, ND and Lefor, ND for two farmers both dealing with cancer and it’s effects. When the dew dries, we’ll be harvesting!
We can use volunteers! If you want to help with harvest or hay hauling, please let me know. A great big thank you to our men (and women!) in the field this week: Dan and Debbie Murphy, Skip and Bonnie Henton, Levi and Lincoln Wielenga, Pete and (re)Pete Giambattista, Tony and Alex Imposimato, Dan Sullwold, Robert Elliot, Nic Hendrickx, Lewis and Mike Storm, Garry Deckert and Eldon Cresap. We are so thankful for you!
Thank you also to our sponsors who choose Farm Rescue to pass along their Rescue Blessings through. You are valued! None of this would be possible without you.
Until next time, be blessed~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
August 8, 2017 - Load. Unload. Rescue. Repeat!
There is a buzz in the Farm Rescue office as we seek to accommodate the need and help as many ranchers as we can. Phones are ringing and Operation Hay Lift trucks continue to move to help ranchers in crisis during this drought. Over the last week, Angels in Blue Keith Barkema, Jerry Christians, Jerry TerWee and Glen Haekenkamp hauled loads to New Salem, Richardton, Washburn and Zap areas in ND.
However, more drivers are need to keep the trucks on the road! Please let me know if you can help haul hay. carol@farmrescue.org or 701-212-0231, or sign up on our Volunteer Form at FarmRescue.org.
Thank you to all who are supporting our mission - The volunteers, sponsors, donors and those who are helping in any other way - you are appreciated!
Until next week, Blessings~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
July 31, 2017 - Operation Hay Lift is Underway!
A crisis requires a response. And that is what Farm Rescue is gearing up for right now. The drought and fires have only continued to increase in severity over the summer, and the ranchers of the upper midwest are hurting for hay and for haulers. To best serve as many as we can, we are sending our trucks out to haul hay free of charge for ranchers in crisis. Over 60 ranchers have already contacted us for help!
The response, in turn, requires support. Farm Rescue is seeking new supporters and appreciates those who have led the way in signing up to volunteer driving the semis or giving to the mission.
Angels-in-Blue Kenny Crites, Keith Barkema and Jerry Christians have been or are in the trucks this week hauling hay to these ranchers. I had a chance to see the need first hand and got in the seat myself last week and hauled a load to Washburn, ND. These ranchers need all the help they can find.
If you or someone you know has a Class-A CDL and can come out and help drive, PLEASE contact me. I have another truck and trailer that I can dispatch if I can find the drivers to help!
And as always, we envy your thoughts and prayers - for rain, for safety, for the fires to be extinguished and for hope for the ranchers.
Blessings until next time~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
July 14, 2017 - Praying for Rain
We finished up our first case last weekend, and are on hold for more to come in. Prayers for rain began many weeks ago, but desperation for the liquid is growing as the clouds are holding onto their treasure. Farm Rescue will start their engines up to go get hay for ranchers who have no crop next week. Please, if you have hay to donate for these ranchers in need, let us know! And thank you for your ongoing support.
More next week. Blessings~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
July 7, 2017 - Bale One
There’s just something about that first bale. Like the first sprouts after planting, or the first grain in the bin at harvest. Haying is upon us, and this week our Angels in Blue were in Lehr, ND, continuing our assistance there. The alfalfa is thin due to the drought, and we keep praying for rain in all the drought-affected areas.
Thank you to volunteers Bill Bjorneby, Eldon Cresap and Gary Krieger for helping out at this case! Also, a big shout out to ALL the sponsors, grantors and donors that make this assistance possible for ranchers in crisis.
We are starting to get some donations of baled hay and grass, so if you know a rancher who needs some, make sure you let us know how to get into contact with them!
Until next week, Blessings~
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
June 30, 2017 - It’s High Time for Hay Time!
Haying Season in the upper Midwest has had a slow start this year due to moderate to extreme drought conditions over most of the region. We have just started our first haying case near Lehr, ND for a rancher who is legally blind due to retina detachment and surgery. It feels good to be in the field again as volunteers start cutting his hay down today. Thank you to Bill Bjorneby, Garry Deckert and Eldon Cresap for their time as they help this rancher in crisis!
We are also getting a lot of calls in from ranchers affected by the drought who need hay for their cattle by fall to feed over the winter months. Farm Rescue is currently seeking donated or discounted quality hay for these ranchers. We also continue to keep the area in our prayers as we pray for rain.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
June 10, 2017 - Hay Equipment Setup
Hello again! This past week was spent with the equipment. Volunteers Clarence Kuss and Matt Hagen in Jamestown are still wrapping up some work on the air seeders to get them put away, and I joined volunteers, Levi and Lincoln Wielenga, Eldon Cresap and Garry Deckert in Bismarck to get the tractors and balers set up for haying season!
As always, RDO Equipment Company has provided top notch equipment to help farm and ranch families in crisis, and that equipment is now ready to go! Please let us know if you or someone you know needs our help with haying this summer.
We also cannot overlook the drought that is going on across the state of North Dakota and into South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. Farm Rescue anticipates being able to haul loads of donated hay to ranch families free of charge. Let us know if you have hay to donate, or if you need hay, and we will do our best to help!
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
June 2, 2017 - Changing Seasons
The Farm Rescue Angels in Blue have done it again, performing safe operations throughout a season and helping farm families across the region. We had a fun day last Friday and got both of the air seeders together for a photo and video shoot while planting for a gentleman who had fallen down the stairs. Local firemen from the Sanborn, ND fire department came to help wash equipment in a jiffy and the film and rigs rolled. They finished that case on Saturday and went back to Ypsilanti, ND and Jamestown, ND cases to plant the fields that were previously too wet. Both of those were completed by Sunday noon, and the Air Seeders were parked. The volunteers all made it home for Memorial Day with their families.
As one season closes, we see another - Haying Assistance - begin. Do you know anyone who needs haying assistance? Let us know! We are accepting applications for assistance now!
And, not forgetting how we do this: a great big "Thank You!" goes out to all of our sponsors that support our mission to help farm and ranch families in crisis and to the volunteers donating their time and energies in the field this past week: Ken Chyle, Levi and Lincoln Wielenga, Kyle Thormodson and Ken Michael.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
May 25, 2017 - The Home Stretch
Planting season seems to fly by every year, and here we are again in the home stretch. AS1 finished at Grenora, ND, and moved to Halliday, ND. They made quick work of the 400 acres there, and then moved equipment to Jamestown to hold.
AS2 worked on the LaMoure, ND case most of the week, and the crew looks to finish that up today and move to Sanborn, where a farmer is recovering from a fall down the stairs.
Next week’s update will hold the Planting season finale, I presume, unless some droplets fall in unfortunate places. We are so grateful for all who made this season, with 21 farmers assisted, a reality once again. We are also thankful for the safety granted this far to our crews in the fields and on the roads.
Here’s the shout out to the awesome volunteers out there the past week: Ken Chyle, Garry Deckert, Rod Leopold, Mark Baumgarten, Jeff Preston, Ken Enstrom, Jerry Bureau, Kyle Thormodson, Ken Michael, Andrew Jewett, Matt Hagen and Levi and Lincoln Wielenga.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
May 19, 2017 - Acres Away
Planting season is flying by, and I feel like next week we will be winding down for the season, unless more cases come in. Crew 1 completed 1000 acres in Fortuna, ND for a farmer awaiting a liver transplant, and moved just South to Grenora. Between rain drops and maintenance on equipment, they’ve planted for two farmers there: one who is caring for his wife during her illness, and the other who recently was released from the hospital with instructions to stay home and recover! They’ll soon be on their way Southeast again.
Crew 2 finished up at Thief River Falls in quick order and made their way to Gary to help a family whose dad is soon going to have heart surgery. Early in the week, they made their way from there to Ypsilanti to help a farmer recovering from a vehicle accident. They’ve been working around the rain as well, searching to find the sandier (and hopefully drier) soil for their openers.
And, not forgetting how we do this: a great big Thank You goes out to all of our sponsors that support our mission to help farm and ranch families in crisis and to the volunteers donating their time and energies in the field this past week: Ken Chyle, Mike Wilson, Paul Zierke, Garry Deckert, Rod Leopold, Mark Baumgarten, Jeff Preston, Jerry Burau, Ken Enstrom, Lee Van Ruler and Alan Enger.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
May 12, 2017 - Corner to Corner
Last Friday, we ended our note in Davenport, ND and Voltaire, ND. Crew 1 made their move to Bottineau, ND from Voltaire. After completing the wheat planting for a farmer who had suffered 2 heart attacks recently, they washed up their rig and headed toward the NW corner of the state: Fortuna.
Crew 2 made quick work of a case in the far NE corner of the state over the weekend near Cavalier, for a farmer who’d had a Triple Bypass Surgery. See their short testimony here. From Cavalier, the Angels in Blue moved to the Grafton, ND area, where we assisted a farmer suffering from effects of a brain tumor. Grafton sprinkles slowed us down a little, but we still made good time in planting the wheat and soybeans. Watch the news coverage of the Grafton case here. With Grafton complete, our volunteers took the equipment to Thief River Falls, where a farm accident caused crisis for a farmer there. We will soon finish the 450 acres of soybeans for him and be on our way again!
We also activated a third crew to plant beans and corn near Ipswich, SD for a farmer with a leg injury. RDO Equipment Company supplied the needed corn planter for the case, and we started there on Wednesday.
As always, a great big Thank You goes out to all of our sponsors that support our mission to help farm and ranch families in crisis and to the volunteers donating their time and energies in the field this week: Ken Chyle, Emil Baranko, Levi and Justus Wielenga, Mike Melaas, Lee Van Ruler, Alan Enger, Mark Baumgarten, Mark Olson, Tom Meyer, Clay and Bill Robertson, Gordon Lindquist, Clarence Kuss, Karen Marowski, Austin Sigman, Mike Wilson and Paul Zierke. You are appreciated!
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
May 5, 2017 - Keep On Rollin'
We are really starting to roll now! Angels in Blue on Crew 1 finished a case near McClusky, where we were blessed to serve a farmer and give a precious gift of a tractor ride and decaled toy tractor to a little boy named Levi, age 3, who has neuroblastoma. His dream has always been to ride in a tractor, and we were excited to make that wish come true!
More Angels in Blue geared up our second unit this week and headed to Davenport, ND, near Fargo. You can read more about our assistance to that family or watch the news story HERE. We will finish there today, and head toward Cavalier, ND tomorrow!
We also had a crew in Montana this week assisting a farm family near Antelope with planting and other field work. What a difference a little extra manpower can do to help a family out during the busy season!
A big thank you to the volunteers that were out in the fields this week: Ken Chyle, Emil Baranko, Levi and Justus Wielenga, Mike Melaas, Lee Van Ruler, Alan Enger, Mark Baumgarten, Clay and Bill Robertson, Karen Marowski, Austin Sigman, Mike Wilson and Paul Zierke. You are all amazing!
Thank you for your thoughts this week, keep clear skies and safety in your prayers for all the planting farmers out there.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
April 28, 2017 - Another Beginning
Farm Rescue began its 12th planting season late last week. It is this place of beginnings where we realize all of the support it takes to bring this together. Helping Farm and Ranch Families in crisis is no simple task. We appreciate the support of all of the Farm Rescuers out there!
Our Angels in Blue on Crew 1, including Ken Chyle, Emil Baranko, Garry Deckert and Doug Hillstrom got the equipment to the first case to plant wheat and flax for a gentleman near Turtle Lake with debilitating nerve pain. Snow kept us out of the tractor for a day or two, but overall, we made quick work of a lot of acres! As Crew 1 heads to McClusky on Monday, we anxiously await warmer soil temperatures for Crew 2 to be able to plant as well.
Until next week,
Carol Wielenga, Operations Director
**Do you want to be a Farm Rescuer or Refer a Family for Assistance? Go to farmrescue.org or call us at 701-252-2017.**
