Hay Donations from People around the U.S.
A staggering outpouring of support from across the nation has converged on Nebraska. This includes tons of hay donations pouring onto the grounds of the Zim Metal and Welding business owned by Curt and Sherri Zimmerer in Verdigre, a community of about 600 residents.
Verdigre has become the ground zero for collecting, transferring and trans- porting hay to hard-hit areas. Knox County, Nebraska, and its western neigh- bors have suffered tremendous losses of livestock, feed and fences, along with the prospect of little or no crop this year.
“Curt was looking for a few bales of hay to help a local family and the whole thing blew up,” Sherri Zimmerer said. “We started getting hay from all over the country. We were getting hay from Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas. I think the Kansas hay donations were (a repayment) because of the help that Nebraska gave them during the Kansas fires.”
The Zimmerers are no strangers to the livestock industry. They owned the neighboring livestock sale barn for 23 years. The new Verdigre Stockyards owners have allowed use of their grounds for the arrival, transfer and trans- porting of hay rolling into the community. The response has exceeded the Zimmerers’ wildest expectations.
“One day we had 25 semis in the parking lot at one time,” added Sherri. “We found places for them. We had 10 trailers backed up, waiting to unload hay.”
One hay donation even came from Pennsylvania. “We had a husband, wife, their baby and dog who were the first ones to come from Pennsylvania,” Sherri said. “Then we had another group who were part of (Lycoming County FFA alumni) group from that state. One of the trucks in their group blew a tire, and the hay started on fire. But they got it taken care of and arrived here a little after midnight Sunday.”
Manufacturer New Holland, along with New Holland dealers Koletzky Imple- ment of Yankton, South Dakota, and Dinkel Implement of Norfolk, Nebraska, paid for the freight and fuel to get the latter Pennsylvania hay to Verdigre. Dinkel Implement, with the support of JCB, also loaned a JCB articulated telehandler to help with unloading and loading the bales of hay.
“Clean-up from this storm is going to be a marathon, not a sprint,” said Lucas Hoffman of Dinkel Implement. “The destruction all the way through Niobrara River Valley is immense. This is one way we could help support our customers.”
The Zimmerers said they marvel at the non-stop volunteer efforts. They point- ed to farmers Marvin Soucek, Kenny Vacok, Jeff Olerich and his dog, Ginger, as constant presences on the scene, helping with unloading, loading and hauling the hay to ranchers in need. As of April 11, approximately 1,500 tons of hay has gone out of Verdigre.
Curt Zimmerer has been inspired by others in the midst of disaster. “There’s so much love being shown here to total strangers. It’s hard to get your head around it,” he said. “We need to hear more stories of generosity like this.”
Source: Associated Press 24 | The Retailer Magazine | May/June
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