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Ranchers Helping Ranchers
We've got us a convoy already arriving in the Texas Panhandle

By Ramey J. Keeth: Copied & Pasted
I escorted several hay trucks to a ranch direct drop north of Miami Tx as I have done many times over the years and the last few days. There I met a third generation west Texas rancher with leathered face and callused hands and a strong grip. This 73-year-old gentleman did not want to accept our hay at first but on our second phone conversation I told him I had already directed the trucks to his location and couldn’t change them up now (not entirely true but it worked to change his mind). He was certain he had neighbors that needed it worse. When we rolled in, he met us at the end of a long drive leading to their empty, burned up hay trap that you could tell had a recently repaired fence where it burned down.

When I stepped out of the pickup with three semis of hay behind me, he shook my hand and said, “well, young man, you showed up anyway." I said, "yes sir it’s what we do." That’s where his tears started to flow and neither of us could say another word for several minutes. He put his hand on my shoulder and shook my hand again and motioned us to the hay trap to unload. He got on a tractor, and I used his skid steer, and we got the trucks unloaded in short order.

I thanked the truck drivers and spoke to them a minute and they were on their way to reload. The rancher got the equipment put away in a small shed that did not burn and walked back over to talk. We talked a few minutes about the history of his ranch and his family in the area. Deep roots in the community. That’s when his sweet wife of 53 years walked up from the house. We continued to talk about the old days and years with good rains and tall grass, cattle market, genetics built over generations, and so on. All to avoid thinking of our current situation.

Inevitably the conversation turned back to today and they both broke down and held each other close as they tried to speak. He said in a broken voice, “I’m no quitter but I’m just getting too old to keep starting over……I don’t know what we’re going to do but I know today you have given us a hope that we did not have this morning when we started our day”. His wife covered her face with both hands, sobbing at this point knowing how hard it was for the man she had watched build and run this ranch to say these words.

None of us could really find any words that fit after that, but I assured them I would be back to check in on them in a few days to see what they need. My team is sending them a gooseneck load of cubes this morning to supplement the hay. As I drove away to the next drop location, through cloudy eyes I thought, these families, these heartbreaking stories, the hope they feel when we bring donations from all over the country, that’s why we do this. That’s why all the hours and nonstop phone calls and breathing the charred earth in the air is worth it. That's also why all of you do what you do. It’s why so much hay, feed, fencing supplies and other donations began rolling in within 24 hours of this disaster.

I share this story to say please don’t stop. Please continue to help us bring this hope to these fine people. You never know whose life will change with the smallest of gifts. There is SO MUCH MORE left to do after this initial surge. Imagine the thought of starting over at 73 years old. Rebuilding miles of fence and barns that you built with your own hands but can no longer accomplish such chores, but it must be done to survive.

I have given my word to each family I talk to that we are here for the long haul. That we will NOT disappear after the first surge. It will be months before grasses even start to recover. Far longer than that to replace fences and barns and homes lost. Please help us sustain the hope we are able to bring and help me keep my word to these folks. You are making a difference.

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Originally posted by Charlie:
VERY Excellent!