Texas Chapters Collect Wildfire Relief
Saturday, April 15, 2017 | Author: Texas FFA News
Fast-moving grass wildfires ravaged rural farm areas in several states, including Texas, this past March. Farmers, ranchers and many others lost livestock, equipment, buildings and much more. The fires were so severe, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement saying he was sending state resources to the area to assist in fighting the fires. The disaster created immediate need for large quantities of hay, feed, fencing materials and other supplies for local individuals who were affected by the fires.
Since the fires subsided, many individuals have put together programs that offer relief to those affected and FFA chapters across the state have been helping any way they can.
Here’s just a sampling of the ways FFA chapters from across the state have been helping:
• Rotan FFA and Roby FFA collected and donated cattle feed, fencing supplies, water and chapstick.
• Gilmer FFA collected and donated t-posts and barbed wire.
• Saltillo FFA, with the help of Tractor Supply and Priefert, collected donations and used chapter funds to send supplies, including a pallet of range cubes, eight bags of milk replacer, 16 calf bottles, t-posts, wire and clips.
• Chisum FFA donated funds and supplies collected during their local show, as well as the proceeds from auctioning off a pair of custom spurs.
• Tahoka FFA members traveled to Knowles, OK to aid wildfire victims. For two days students tore down burnt fence, a total of 10 miles. Members raised over $4,000 to buy fence building supplies and also donated a pallet of water and round bales of hay for ranchers in that area.
• North Lamar FFA is holding a team roping event on April 22, 2017 to raise funds. They are donating 70% of the profit to the Leflore Volunteer Fire Department who is helping producers replace livestock lost in the fires.
• Chester FFA collected and donated 12 bags of milk replacer and two calf bottles.
• Hico FFA and Iredell FFA hosted a “Sack of Cow Cubes” drive to collect cattle feed.
• Graham FFA hosted a car wash and donated funds.
• Sabinal FFA donated over $8,000 in steel joints/pipe and additional funds.
• Nazareth FFA donated range cubes and aided locals who were affected by the fires by picking-up hay and feed for their livestock.
• 2014-2015 Texas FFA Vice President Rhett Wilson, organized various opportunities for individuals and FFA chapters to donate funds and supplies. He then organized several trips to transport the materials to the panhandle fire victims.
• 2014-2015 Texas FFA President Ryon Cox, along with Cox Concrete and Priefert, organized various opportunities for individuals and FFA chapters to donate funds and supplies. He then organized for the materials to be transported to the panhandle fire victims.
These chapters are a wonderful example of how FFA members and chapters can embrace the idea of giving back by living out the final line of the FFA motto: Living to Serve.
Is your FFA chapter helping out?
Let us know by emailing ashley@vatat.org.
How can you help?
In an effort to help those who have been affected by this event, the Texas Farm Bureau has developed the Panhandle Wildfire Relief Fund. Click here for more information regarding how you can help.
[Photos via Stover FFA Chapter, Missouri and Saltillo FFA]
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