Although the weather was not cooperating late last week, volunteers and family members have been making progress in harvesting crops for Laurel producer Joel (Joey) Johnson.
Johnson was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his spine approximately four months ago. He underwent surgery and spent two months in the hospital in Omaha. After spending some time at home, he and his wife, Angela, are now in Boston where Joey will receive radiation treatments for the next two months.
All this has made it impossible for Joey to complete harvest this fall.
One of his friends contacted Farm Rescue, an organization that provides assistance to those in need.
Farm Rescue’s mission is to help farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster by providing the necessary equipment and volunteer workforce to plant, hay or harvest their crop. Livestock feeding assistance is also available to ranchers.
In the case of the Johnson family, Farm Rescue sent a semi and two volunteers.
Lance Wach, originally from Hayes Center, Nebraska, is an Air Force pilot who lives in Enid, Oklahoma. He said he learned of Farm Rescue after watching a U-Tube video on Millennial Farmer.
He said when he applied to be a volunteer for the program, he was able to list his farm experience, which included knowledge of running a combine.
Dave Parker of Manhatten, Kansas has been providing volunteer assistance through Farm Rescue for three years. This week he was driving the semi loads of corn to their destination.
In addition to the assistance from Farm Rescue, Grossenburg Implement from Hartington provided a tractor, grain cart and a person to drive the tractor.
Joey's son, Jayden Pick, and father, Jerry Johnson, have been heavily involved with this year's harvest also.
"We had the beans finished before Farm Rescue came in and about 240 acres of corn harvested. Farm Rescue can help combine up to 1,000 acres if the weather allows," Jayden said. "Each of the two combines we have can harvest up to 15 acres an hour."
Security Bank of Hartington and Laurel provided lunch for those who were assisting with the harvest one day last week.
Prior to the Farm Rescue volunteers arriving in Laurel, Busch Light conducted a "Keep the Pint Night" at Knuckleheadz in Laurel with proceeds going to Farm Rescue.
Throughout the early part of last week, seven to 10 people were involved with the harvest each day, allowing for considerable progress.
Farm Rescue helps farm and ranch families in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
