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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