Farmers Helping Neighbors on National Ag Day

Living in the country, the term "neighbor" has a pretty broad meaning.  Factually saying, my nearest neighbor is one mile away.  But if we limit neighbors to just one mile, then I only have three neighbors.  So like many rural residents, I stretch the boundaries of neighbors more than Wikipedia probably accepts.

One thing I love about the farming community is that we stretch our community boundaries, and are always willing and wanting to help out a neighbor.  Several years ago we partnered with many other neighbors to help out some neighbors (they live 5 miles away) harvest their husband/father's fields after he unexpectedly passed away.  We were there for Therron's family not expecting anything in return.  We were there because it is what a neighbor does.  We help each other out.  We are a friendly face giving the farmer wave driving down the road.  We care for the well being of our entire community.

The harvest crew for the Therron Miller family, October 2011

Right now is a time that the farming community is coming together to help our neighbors in Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas that have been impacted by wildfires.  Through these wildfires, more than 2,300 square miles have been burned and tragically seven people have died and thousands of cattle have been killed.

Last Friday, Iowa's Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation to allow the transportation of oversize and overweight loads of forage on Iowa's roads for the next two months.  This is allowing people to drive large bales of hay and other forages to the ranchers in need.

Another way Iowa's farmers are lending a hand is by an online auction happening on Friday, April 7th at 10 a.m. to raise funds for victims of the recent wildfires.  This is being hosted by the Iowa Cattlemen's Foundation, Iowa Cattlemen's Association and Dream Dirt.  You can learn more about the auction by checking out my friend, and neighbor, Cristen of Food & Swine's recent post.

You can also find a list of other aid efforts on AgWeb.

Do you know of any other ways to help our neighbors affected by the wildfires?  Be sure to share in the comment section below and always remember to Comment for a Cause!

When a Neighbor is More Than Just the Person Who Lives Down the Road

Last week a group of six tornadoes went through my neighborhood.  Luckily for my family and I, the tornadoes were not on the ground as they went over our house, but for some of our neighbors, they weren't as fortunate.

A picture that I took of one of the tornadoes that went by our home
(Don't worry, right after I took the photo I took everyone to the
basement for shelter for the duration of the storms)

Right after the storm had passed through, My Farmer hopped into his pick-up to check on his parents, our hogs and our new house to make sure everyone and everything was alright.  But as he was making his way to check on everything, he noticed trees across the road at our neighbors.  He drove over to find destruction everywhere.  He talked to the family to make sure they were okay and then looked around to see how he could help.  The night of the storm, My Farmer, along with other neighbors who made similar trips after the storm to check on things, all merged on our neighbor's place and got to work.  First thing that night was to board up the home.  Second thing done, plans were made for people to take time away from the fields the next day to help with clean-up.

A view of some of the damage the day after the tornadoes.
Our neighbors had trees uprooted, out buildings destroyed,
windows shattered and personal belonging thrown around the entire farm.

Neighbors brought over equipment to help with the clean-up

I couldn't help with the actual clean-up with two kids age two and under
but I could help with lunch for the work crew!
And the best part of helping with lunch, I had friends give me food
to help with lunch after they had heard what happened

Last week I was so proud of my community.  None of these people were asked, paid or told to come and help these neighbors in need.  Work and help was needed and everyone felt it was their job to come and work and help.  

Last week's events made me think of another time that my community came together to help a neighbor in need.  In 2011 one of our neighbors passed away in a car accident.  When it came time for his fields to be harvested, farmers from the entire neighborhood took a day off of harvesting their own fields to help this family in need.

Combine and catch carts at work in a field

Three combines working on the same field

A line-up of the combines and tractors used to help with the harvest

Neighbors that came to help a neighbor

Once again, why did these neighbors come together to help another neighbor in need?  Call it "Midwest Values" or being an Iowan, but everyone wanted to be there to help.  There was work that needed to be done and no one was just going to wait for someone or some government group to come and do the work.

I am so proud of my neighborhood and community.  We are always there for each other.  We truly care about each other and show concern for one another.  I realize that everyone in this world is not as fortunate as I am to have this sense of community or neighbors.  Some only get this feeling of support from family.  So I guess you could say I have two families - my biological relatives and my neighbors.  (And you know you are from the rural Midwest when you consider a person who lives many miles away still a neighbor...)

What makes you proud of your community or neighborhood?