Kansas ranchers step up for others in need
Kansans take pride in being kind beyond the norms set in other parts of the country. Holding open a door at a busy convenience store, or a quick wave to oncoming county-road traffic, are small examples of our thoughtfulness.
Some Kansas ranchers, victims of last spring’s wildfire in southwest Kansas, took it a major step further this month. They gave up valuable resources of their own to help new wildfire victims in Montana and drought victims in South Dakota.
“Even though we’re still picking up our own pieces, we should be the first to step up when somebody needs help,” said rancher Tyler Woolfolk, who lives near Protection.
The March fire that burned more than 700,000 acres in Clark and Comanche counties killed thousands of cattle and burned hundreds of miles of fences. Ranchers in those areas have had a rough summer trying to recover.
But Kansas ranchers jumped to the aid of ranchers elsewhere this summer, just as donors from around the country helped them with hay and supplies soon after the wildfire.
A group including Bernie Smith sent 32 tons of hay to a Montana rancher recovering from a 270,000-acre fire. Remember, Smith and friends could have used the hay for their own cattle since winter grasses are going to be thin.
Woolfolk’s ranch arranged to have hay sent to South Dakota, where ranchers are struggling to keep their herds fed during a drought.
Other ranchers contributed money for fuel, and some loaned pickups, trailers and semis.
The Kansas ranchers are delivering more than needed supplies. They were also able to give Montana ranchers encouragement, having gone through the ordeal themselves. Helping the next wildfire victims has also been therapeutic for Kansas ranchers after months of concern about their own burned-out properties.
Travis Brown, a Montana rancher who lost 6,000 acres to fire, said the Kansans “understand the challenges that are in front of us.”
Brown and the other ranchers who received Kansas kindness will now get an opportunity to pay it forward.
This story was originally published August 16, 2017 at 9:04 AM with the headline "Kansas ranchers step up for others in need."