Volunteer Efforts For Hay Donation For South Proves Successful

JESSE REIMAN picks up a bale of hay to be sent to the gulf port area of Louisiana. Area students from St. Mary's and Chambers helped load the donated hay.
It was barely 20 degrees early last Saturday morning, and loading 1200 bales of hay on two semi trucks nearly 20 miles south of O'Neill, hardly seems like it would be at the top of any teenagers list. Especially when they weren't getting paid. And yet, in a good will effort, St. Mary's teenagers showed up in force to do exactly that. The teenagers volunteered to load the donated hay which would be trucked to the Gulf port area of Louisiana in order to help out fellow ranchers whose pastures were killed or seriously stunted by the salt water of Katrina.

The teens donating their time and muscle were: Jacob Reiman, Tori Novak, Matt Boyle, Tony Soukup, Nate Petersen, Zach Sibbel, Cody Eiler, Hayden Schryeider, Katie Fletcher, Sloane Schneider, Mary Peetz, Meg Gaughenbaugh, Meghan Boyle, Jenna Connot, Jacob Soukup, Josh Tomjack, Marc Zak, Amy Tomjack, Spencer Wagenaar, Tim Shoemaker, Jess Reiman, Joe Dugan from St. Mary's, and Andrew Werner from Chambers High School. Brad Tomjack, Scott Gydeson, Gordy Givens, Steve Baharji, Hugb Shoemaker, Bob Tomj ack, and Mike Kelly showed. up to help as well. Chambers Corner contributed to the volunteer effort by feeding the whole. crew for a nominal charge.

The hay was donated by Ross Garwood of Atkinson, Holt County Feeders, Greg and Sue Gallagher, Mark Chohon, John Prouty, Daryl Tomjack, Dick Mlnarik, the Atkinson Livestock Market, Shamrock Livestock Market, and the Ericks,on Livestock Market. Bob and Keith , Tomjack of the Tomjack Hay Company .from Chambers donated their services to bale all the hay and ready it for loading.

Mr. Harry Knobbe from West Point initiated the effort in the Holt County area when Mr. Garwood expressed an interest in helping. The hay was sent in conjunction with The National Cattleman's Beef Association which has been heading up an effort to locate ranchers in need and distributing the hay in an organized manner:

Mr. Knobbe has been working together with the Orphan Grain Train which has sent 17 loads of large square bales to the storm ravaged area. Bernie Ready of the organization said he appreciated the efforts of those in the Holt County area to help the cause. The Orphan Grain Train's web site is www.ogt.org.

The truck drivers called back to report that the hay arrived in Louisiana on Monday, and was unloaded by prisoners on that end. The next two loads of hay will be loaded during the week of March 13th. Future donations will either be directed to additional hay or fencing supplies, depending on the need. If you would like to contribute to this endeavor, please call the Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk at 402-3719313, or Deb Kelly at 336-1354.