As wildfires continue to ravage the region, the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association is preparing to allocate funds to those in need, although the distribution is yet to commence. The ongoing nature of the wildfire season means the needs of applicants could evolve, according to a committee led by the association tasked with deciding fund allocation.
“We have also spoken to a number of our members who have said, ‘Hey, we’re still assessing damage, don’t get in a hurry, this is a long game. We are going to be doing this for a while, we’re going to be cleaning up, we’re going to need help down the road,’” revealed Field, indicating that the situation remains fluid.
Although the association has received only 50 applications to date, Field is confident that this number will grow as more affected individuals come forward. An application deadline is on the horizon, but specific details are still under discussion.
There are multiple relief funds available, including those from Sandhills Relief and the Farm Bureau, which have already begun distributing resources. Field emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach, stating, “Some of those funds have already started distributing money, which is wonderful. I think we all realize that this is going to be a group effort and a long-term deal.” Interested parties can learn more about these funds from the Sandhills Relief fund and the Farm Bureau fund.
Field encourages those impacted by the wildfires to explore all available assistance, acknowledging the self-reliant nature of many agricultural producers. “Most ag producers are just such hard workers and believe that it takes hard work and you gotta pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get going without having to have a lot of people help,” she noted. “And yet, when it’s the magnitude of what some of these folks faced, there’s no way you can do it by yourself in some places.”
Joe Van Newkirk shared his observations of this hesitance, recounting, “There was just a slug of donated hay and fencing supplies donated to this country. I’ve had several calls from out-of-the-area cattlemen that say, ‘Give me a name. Who needs this.’ None of them would take anything. They’d give them their neighbor’s name. And then, of course, they wouldn’t take it either.”
While Van Newkirk himself does not plan to seek private or federal assistance, he acknowledges the substantial positive impact that community generosity has had on his ranch and his neighbors. “It really enlightens you on how good people really are,” he remarked.
In terms of formal aid, Van Newkirk mentioned that many ranchers would appreciate property tax relief as a form of disaster assistance, though he recognized the challenges associated with generating revenue in the affected counties. “The state needs to do something about this,” he stated. “It’s pretty high, compared to Wyoming, Colorado, all of our neighbors. But we understand that there’s really no tourism. There’s no minerals. There’s really nothing else they can tax other than the land to get the revenue that’s needed – and these schools got to operate.”
