Fundraiser to support ranchers affected by Nebraska Wildfire

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —The Nebraska wildfires have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of grassland that many ranchers use to feed their cattle. It’s a sad reality that has provoked sympathy from ranchers in South Dakota.

“When your family’s in the ranching business, that’s your whole life. It’s your whole livelihood. And, you know, you’re caretakers of these creatures. And, to be without food, you know, without feed for them, when it’s your way of life. That’s just a horrible place to be,” SD Cattlemen’s Foundation board member, Ty Eschenbaum said.

South Dakota ranchers were motivated to help out in a way only they could– by donating hay.

“They’re sending us right in the burn footprint. So we’re going into that Arthur, Oshkosh, Lakeside areas, where they were hit the hardest. They’re telling us that the hay that we are bringing down will be completely fed by the end of the weekend,” Kingsbury County Cattlemen’s Association, Laurie Casper said.

But it’s not cheap getting the hay to Nebraska.

“The price of fuel is astronomical. And, you know, we’re trying to get these trucks going those 39,800 miles total. Definitely a huge bill to flip,” Casper said.

That’s why the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation has a way for you to help get that hay across state lines. They are matching up to $10,000 dollars worth of donations.

“It’s a lot of fuel. So that’s exactly where our dollars are going and the dollars that we help fundraise. And anybody that wants to join in and help us, 100% of your funds are going to this effort,” Eschenbaum said.

Neighbors helping neighbors, hundreds of miles apart.

“It’s very taxing, you know, this time of year. Calving cows, starting to breed cows, feeding cows, worried about the drought. And, you know, if I’m going to have enough pasture, so to get hit with a fire that takes out everything, on top of all of that, I think it’s pretty easy for other cattlemen to say, hey, we got to help,” Eschenbaum said.