When Angus members heard some of their own were in trouble, they started asking, “What can we do to help?” Several Angus breeders have been affected by wildfires that swept across several Kansas counties on Wednesday, says Anne Lampe, Kansas Angus Association manager.
Both the Bar S Ranch and Pelton Ranch received extensive damage.
“They lost barns and homes and cattle,” she says.
The bulk of the burned acres are within Russell, Osborne, Rooks and Ellis counties, said a release by the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA). Ranchers in the hardest hit areas lost fence, livestock and feed resources, KLA noted.
“I grew up in hurricane country, and it felt like a hurricane. I’ve lived in Scott County for 36 years and I’ve never seen weather like this,” Lampe says of the wind that propelled the quickly moving fires.
Experience in other wildfire relief efforts suggests work will be ongoing as families sort through insurance along with what they need most in both the short-term and the long-term, Lampe says, but there are several options for assistance already established.
Ways to help the Dickerson family:
Direct donations to the David and Stephanie Dickerson family can be made via PayPal (barsranch2@hotmail.com) or send a check to UMB Bank in care of David and Stephanie at 507 N. Main, Russell, KS 67665. Additionally, there has been a Go Fund Me page set up: https://gofund.me/3f7b003c
Loads of Hay, equipment, and supplies can be organized through Clinton Laflin: (620) 583-0207
Ways to help the Pelton family:
Gift cards (Visa, Target, Walmart, etc.) or checks for the Peltons to purchase personal items can be sent to Chris and Susan Pelton, 201 2nd Street, Paradise, KS 67658.
There has been a Go Fund Me page set up to help meet immediate needs including feed for the cattle, hay, straw, tools and fencing supplies: https://gofund.me/4e4b378b
KLA has organized the following aid activities for Kansas ranchers:
Heartland Regional Stockyards at Plainville will serve as a collection and distribution point for hay and supplies. Heartland has some cane hay on hand for those who need feed quickly. Contact the auction market at 785-688-4080, Landon Schneider at 785-259-3234 or Brandon Hamel at 785-434-6280. Russell Livestock also is taking hay donations. Stockwater tanks are a need, as well. An additional drop-off point is the Russell County Fairgrounds. Call extension agent Marcia Geir at 785-483-3157 with questions.
A supply donation site for those impacted by fire in southwestern Lane County and surrounding counties has been set up at 3 E Rd 120, Dighton, KS. To coordinate a drop-off, call Erik Steffens at 620-397-1687.
Cash donations can be made through the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF), KLA’s charitable arm, by clicking here or sending a check, with “wildfire relief” written in the memo line, to 6031 S.W. 37th, Topeka, KS 66614. All proceeds will be used to help those affected by the recent weather event.
If you are in need of supplies or would like to make an in-kind donation, call KLA at (785) 273-5115.