Carrie Mess of Waupun Equipment in Wisconsin knew that she and her agricultural network could make a difference.
Learn more about the hay drive below, and be sure to donate to the cause.
Q. Why did you decide to start the hay drive?
The hay drive started because about two months ago, while sitting in church saying prayers for the people affected by drought, I realized I had the ability to do something to help.
The idea of sending a load or maybe two south came together and on Monday morning I went to the owners of Waupun Equipment, where I work, to ask for their support. Not only did they agree to help, they embraced the idea 100 percent and have made it possible for the hay drive to grow to where it is now.
Q. What was involved in getting the process started?
The process started by sending out a press release asking for hay donations. Channel 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, and Pam Jahnke (the “Fabulous Farm Babe”) picked up the story.
Soon the phone started ringing at Waupun Equipment with people offering hay and wanting to send monetary donations. Almost as quickly, we started receiving calls from farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and Texas asking for us to send hay to their area.
We realized early on that distribution of the hay was going to be next to impossible to do from here, so we started to make contact with ag organizations in the areas where we were going to deliver hay.
Waupun Equipment has not only pledged a significant amount of money to cover some of the loads, they have also donated man-hours and trucks to pickup donated bales and move them to loading points for the semi trucks.
We quickly had more loads of hay donated then we had trucks to put it on. Lyle Hull Equipment, another local equipment dealer offered their truck and driver and they have hauled most of the loads for us.
Q. How many loads have you delivered to Oklahoma and Texas?
So far, five loads have been delivered: three loads of beef hay to Southwestern Oklahoma and two loads of dairy-quality hay to dairy farmers in Windthorst, Texas. We plan to have another load headed to Windthorst next week. After that we hope to send three loads of dairy hay into central Texas to farmers in that area.
Q. How much money in donations have you raised so far?
We have raised enough funds to cover four of the loads we have sent. We currently have 10 loads donated. We're appreciative of the support from companies like Bobcat Lawnmowers, Sierra Desert Breeders, DCC Waterbeds, Mystic Valley Farms and Udder Comfort.
Q. How many farmers donated hay?
We have had hay from 20 different farmers donated; donations ranged from two bales to entire semi loads.
Q. How many producers or farms have you been able to help?
Each semi load helps four to six farms. While the donated bales don’t cover a farmer's feed needs for an entire season, we hope that a few bales eases the burden slightly and, at the very least, lets them know that we care.
Q. How much more is needed to continue making an impact?
We continue to have calls from people donating hay, and we will send all donated hay so long as we can financially cover the trucking.
Q. What have been some of your experiences working on this project?
As I write this, I am headed down with a load of hay, bound for Altus, Oklahoma, right now. We have six square bales and 30 round bales of hay headed to beef producers.
I expect to get into Oklahoma Monday early evening (Oct. 31). From the people that I have talked to about the first loads of hay, this has been an incredible gift for them.
I have spoken with people who went 49 weeks without a drop of rain on their farm. The area has received some rain lately and that has allowed for some wheat planting to begin. However, it is still extremely dry. One of the first things I noticed when I got pictures via email from the first load delivered is that the baled hay on the semi truck was greener than the pasture they unloaded the hay in.
Q. Where can those interested find more information and how to donate?
You can follow the load of hay I am driving with by checking out my blog, dairycarrie.com. I will be writing about our trip and talking to some of the beef producers in Oklahoma and dairy farmers in Texas and sharing the story there. Click here for the original press release, updates about the hay drive and information on how to donate. Those on Twitter can follow additional updates from my account, @dairycarrie, or the hashtag #haydrive. FG
PHOTOS:
TOP: The first load of hay arrives in Oklahoma. Photo provided by Carrie Mess.
MIDDLE: Dairy farmer Leo Schraufnagel, loading hay he donated. Photo by Joan Wiese.
