Bales of help: Cattlemen deliver hay, supplies to flood-stricken Nebraska

     The floods that devastated parts of Nebraska got the attention of producers and agricultural businesses in this part of the state, who decided to do something about it.

     A flood relief effort called Jones County Hay Drive, organized by the Jones County Cattlemen gained tons of hay donations from producers in the area, along with donations of equipment from producers, area businesses, and others.

     It started with a hay donation from R Land & Cattle and Eric Loes. The Jones County Cattlemen followed up by purchasing $2,500 of supplies for delivery to Nebraska, with funds taken from proceeds at the recent Jones County Beef Banquet.

     “We help out fellow cattlemen,” said Doug Kurt, treasurer of the Jones County Cattlemen Board.

     “At our last board meeting we decided to do something for flood relief. The majority of the cattle industry that was hurt was in Nebraska. So we decided to donate to Nebraska, because the need was there the most.”

     One trip to Nebraska showed that the need was greater than expected. The Cattlemen got in contact with Nebraska State Extension, and put out another local request for hay donations.

     “I’m just trying to line up a couple extra trucks,” Cattlemen Board member Neal Grant said on April 4. “We’ll put out a post, make it county-wide, and see if we can get people to deliver hay to our farm on (Highway) 38, and go from there.”

     Sure enough, the donations rolled in, with hay being dropped off at Dave Lubben’s farm north of Monticello. People donated a total of 89 bales for delivery to Fullerton, Neb. Fencing supplies and pallets of barbed wire were also donated.

     Karde’s 151 donated diesel fuel for the trip, and area truckers – Witsam Trucking, Hogan Trucking and Boomerang Corp. – donated the use of their semis for hauling.

     “It went real well,” Grant said.

     A group of Cattlemen and spouses loaded bales April 12, and drivers left early on the morning of April 13 to deliver the hay and supplies.

     The Extension office in Fullerton had a list of the farmers in the greatest need, including 55 that were in need of fencing, and 43 in need of hay.

     “The stories are just unreal,” Grant said. “There was a young farmer who lost 300 bales of hay and 20 cows from the flood. You hear stories like that and it hits you.”

     It worked out that the Cattlemen were able to help before they were too busy in the fields with planting.

     “We had time to do it now,” Grant said. “Pretty soon we’re going to be real busy.”