NWHA Members
Helping Across the Country
The week of March 6, 2017 will go down in history as the largest and most
devastating wildfire in Kansas history. Thousands of acres of ranching
country in the southwest corner of the state, were wiped out by devastating
wildfires. Kansas ranchers likened the scene to a battle zone: carcasses of
dead cattle and horses everywhere. No grass, no bushes, no trees. There is
nothing left. Many of the animals that did survive the initial wildfire had
to be humanely euthanized due to the severity of their burns.
The farming community runs very wide and very deep. Our farmers keep
us fed and a great part of what this country is all about.
Long time NWHA members, Brandi and Rick Clemens, from West Branch
Michigan are part of that farming community where they live and work on
their multi-generational dairy farm. When they and their neighbors heard
about the devastation in Kansas, they didn’t ask questions. They joined
others with the Ogemaw Wildfire Convoy, loaded up hay and feed, fueled
up their rigs….and headed west. Eighteen hours later, Rick Clemens, his
family members and the rest of the Ogemaw Wildfire convoy pulled in to
Ashland Kansas and the ranch of Jenny Giles-Betschart.
As Brandi Clemens stayed in Michigan, she relayed information from Rick
about the ranch they donated their hay too. “They lost everything in-
cluding horses, 600 head of cattle and the rest badly burned, their 2 homes
on the ranch , barns, fences, tack...I mean everything. One tool shed was
spared and their horse trailer that some of the horses were in. They loaded
up but were unable to get out of their driveway because the fire was moving
at 70 mph and had no choice but to run in their tool s hed and hope for the
best. God was with them and spared them and the horses they were able to
load. The stories the Convoy brought back are heartbreaking and unimag-
inable. The convoy included my Uncle, 4 cousins, my husband and sister in
law and many other local farmers. These people out west are going to have
it rough in the years to come but they are fighting to build back their liveli-
hood. Our local guys were able to give them a little hope.”
NWHA National News 24
NWHA National News 25