DELAVAN, Wis. — While federal and state officials continue to drag their feet delivering help to those hit hard by March’s flooding in Nebraska and Iowa, farmers and others in rural communities in the Midwest are organizing solidarity and aid.
Stacey Koenen, who works at the Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill here, read an online post about fundraising efforts being organized for flood-stricken Nebraska farmers and decided to get something going in the area.
The owners of the bar agreed. “For two weeks starting April 6, farmers, workers and small businesses in the farming area dropped off donations of farm and cleaning supplies to the bar, more than enough to fill a 53-foot trailer,” Koenen told the Militant.
Three other local businesses — Wood Products, Gifford Tree Service and Royal Basket Trucks — donated use of a semitruck and large bins to hold what had been donated. Whiskey Ranch “organized a guest bartender night April 13, where area farmers poured the drinks, raising more than $1,800 for fuel for the trip to Winslow, Nebraska, and back,” Koenen said.
Terry “Chop” Nelson, a third-generation farmer and truck driver, set out April 24, accompanied by Koenen. Above, from left, volunteers Travis Eger, Nelson and Kelly Eger load up the supplies.