By Julie Tomascik
Editor
As fires continue to burn across Texas, donations for farmers and ranchers arrive by the truckload.
Fencing supplies, feed and hay have poured in from fellow Texans and farmers and ranchers across the country.
And County Farm Bureaus are doing their part to help, too.
Harley Jarzombek, a young Farm Bureau member in high school, is helping coordinate hay donations from Karnes County.
Truckloads of hay are traveling over 300 miles to Eastland County to help neighbors in need.
“When we found out about all these fires up in North Central Texas, I knew right away I wanted to do something to help, because they’re our family in the end,” she said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “So, me and my parents put together a hay drive.”
They found hay. They found trucks. And they found drivers. All with the same goal in mind—help farmers and ranchers suffering from the wildfires.
“We’re just trying to help out the people who need it most,” she said. “They need rain and hay. We can’t give them rain, but we can give them hay.”
Karnes County Farm Bureau is even making a financial commitment to transport the hay. So far, the county organization has donated $2,400. That covers the fuel cost for four semi-trucks to haul hay to Eastland County.
They have plans to financially help with more donations, too.
“There are a lot of different organizations and a lot of different people helping to get hay and feed and supplies up to Eastland County,” Jarzombek said. “My family and I and the people of Karnes County wanted to help, too.”
What remains in Eastland County and in other counties across the state is devastation. A charred landscape. A thick layer of ashes coats what remains.
But this tragedy shows us the generosity of farmers and ranchers and of agricultural organizations—each working to help those in need.
Texas Farm Bureau also established a wildfire relief fund. Tax-deductible, charitable donations can be made online at texasfarmbureau.org/wildfire-relief-fund. The funds will help farmers and ranchers with unreimbursed agricultural losses.
Karnes County Farm Bureau board member Ernest Jendrusch (right) and Harley Jarzombek present a check to cover fuel costs to Kenworth Krause (left) for hauling donated hay to Eastland County. Photo courtesy Gary Jarzombek.
Need a phone number. I have some if they want to come and get it.
Thank you for the note and offer. The organizers say they are needing truckers to haul the hay. You might contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office about providing a hay donation to wildfire areas.