Farm Horizons • Aug. 8, 2016 • Page 10
good Samaritan. He planned to go around, searching for family farms that were going through rough times, and do what he could to help.
Once, when Gross told his plan to an Army friend of his, the friend asked why he was waiting to retire,“ why not start now?”
“ I had a strong desire to help farm families in rural communities,” Gross said.“ I wanted to keep these farms from being in debt. When we help keep family farms out of debt, we help whole communities.”
Gross said Farm Rescue is beneficial to the next generation of farmers, because if a family can avoid financial crisis, they have a better chance of being able to pass their farm on to their children.
Farm Rescue sprang into reality when it helped its first family in 2006. Since then, the organization has helped about 375 family farms in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Montana.
Gross said that volunteers come from all over the country, some are from big cities and have never seen a farm, but are interested to discover where their food comes from.
“ The volunteers inspire me,” Gross said.“ Many return year after year. We have a 98 percent retention rate. If volunteers continue to come back again and again, you know that the organization is good. If there wasn’ t something tangible, something good about it, they wouldn’ t stay.”
Robert Stoltman, a volunteer from Sauk Rapids said he has helped on about seven farms.
“ They allow me to operate machinery I’ ve always loved, as well as help give people something that they truly need,” Stoltman said.“ We’ re always anxious at first when we meet the families, but once we spend a few days on their farms, we blend right into the family.”
Stoltman said volunteering for Farm Rescue is a pure form of helping out, versus just donating money.
“ Most people throw money in stuff, and I’ m not a real believer in that,” Stoltman said.“ With Farm Rescue, you get to see what your work is going toward, you see the product. You can feel the gratitude of the family when you get there and when you leave; sometimes they’ re sad we have to leave, I’ ve left in tears before.”
One volunteer from Buffalo, Nyles Gentz, has not yet had the chance to work on a farm.
“ I just joined about a year ago, but I’ m looking forward to helping out,” Gentz said.“ I grew up on a farm in Southwest Minnesota so I saw farm accidents. This is a really good organization.”
Gross said Farm Rescue creates an“ avenue of goodness.” By this, he means that the organization is an outlet for people who want to practice volunteerism, but are not sure how to go about it.
“ A lot of people want to help, but they just need somewhere to start,” Gross said.“ This is their way of returning to the farm.”
On a few occasions, Gross said, families have referred to volunteers as“ angels in blue” because of the color of their outfits.
“ Seeing that we’ ve helped people, kept them out of debt, is amazing,” Gross said.“ It’ s nice knowing we’ re making an impact on farms throughout our region.”
Farm Rescue is currently taking volunteers. To apply, visit their website at http:// farmrescue. org / get _ involved / volunteer /. •
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