Ag News
Farmers step up to help communities in post-Helene crisis
Posted on Oct 12, 2024 at 19:12 PM
By Jay Stone
Sometimes, the old tools are best. At McCorkle Nurseries in McDuffie County, Hurricane Helene presented many problems, not the least of which was getting power to the computers that manage parts of the nursery’s automated systems, from controlling irrigation to coordinating the robots used to move and track plant inventory.
Helene knocked the power out, but she could not stop Georgia farmers’ willingness and ability to help. Just down the road from McCorkle’s is Hillcrest Farms, a dairy operation and agritourism venue run by the Rodgers family. The Rodgers loaned a 1969 International 856 tractor, which was connected to a generator via the tractor’s power takeoff gear. Voilá, computers are back up and running.
“I was really floored at how other nurseries – some of them our competitors – jumped in and helped us,” Skeetter McCorkle said. “We’ve been blessed, for sure.”
Other major nurseries, including Monrovia based in South Georgia and Alabama-based Flowerwood, loaned McCorkle’s enough generators to keep running sufficient irrigation to keep the farm’s 6 million plants alive.
The 1950s tractor powering a bank of computers is a fun example, but it’s one of many instances where Georgia’s farmers stepped up to help other farmers and their communities in their time of need.
Hurricane Helene brought billions of dollars’ worth of damage, a legion of disrupted lives and lost lives across much of the eastern half of Georgia.
After Helene, the first order of business for many on Sept. 27 was simply re-establishing local travel. Georgia’s farmers went to work, not only clearing their driveways, but in many cases secondary roads, which were littered with trees, downed power lines and other debris inhibiting travel. Cutting away the trees allowed farmers to get around and see how their farms fared, and it enabled their neighbors to get out and being the process of recovery.
“Farmers cleared our whole road,” said Rodgers, who said he went down the road clearing trees until he encountered a power crew working to clear a downed power line from a tree blocking the road
Clearing roads was only the beginning.
“The response to Hurricane Helene shows that Georgia’s farmers care deeply about their communities and their neighbors,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said. “Our volunteer members are servants at heart, and we could not be more proud of how our members and county offices have responded and offered help to others.”
There were numerous farmer-led initiatives around the state to help those in need. Here are just a few examples of how GFB members and county offices shepherded their communities through the storm:
Jefferson County Farm Bureau board members served their community by removing trees from roads and houses, as well as providing bottled water and meals. The JCFB board hauled water to livestock while power outages prevented some livestock producers from pumping water.
In McDuffie County, Rodgers came across neighbors whose employers in nearby Thomson or Augusta were closed due to storm damage or a lack of power. He gave them the opportunity to work temporarily at Hillcrest, where the Rodgers family also provided meals for farm employees, their family members, and others who came to the farm.
While dealing with damage to farm structures and equipment and assessing damage to his crops, Washington County Farm Bureau Corporate Treasurer James Hitchcock used a generator to power his family’s home, where he and his wife, Brooke, welcomed guests for food and a chance to shower. James also responded to requests for aerial imaging, taking his drone to other farms to help producers document their damage.
Similarly, Taylor Brett in Johnson County used generator power for his house and allowed guests to get showers. Brett said in the days following the storm he’d done the bulk of the family’s cooking on outdoor cooking equipment.
“I’ve spent a lot more time with my kids in the last week,” Brett said on Oct. 1, four days after the storm.
Farmers all over the state reached out to those in Helene’s path. Cherokee County Farm Bureau Director Ben Cagle drove a truck filled with 28 pallets of a variety of supplies for hurricane victims, according to a Facebook post by his wife, Vicki. With help from CCFB staff, two local Boy Scout troops and the Holly Springs Police Department, Cagle collected donations and loaded the truck.
“One of the things I’ve always loved about GFB is how it is one big community,” Vickie Cagle said. “Within a couple phone calls you can make a connection with someone in almost any county in Georgia. This is great example!”
The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Young Farmers & Ranchers chapter packaged snack bags for children.
Hancock County Farm Bureau donated money to help feed electrical crews working to restore power.
Young Farmers & Ranchers from GFB District 5, along with GFB 5th District Director Matt Bottoms, and 5th District Federation Manager Kari Creamer, loaded donations from Mid GA Grain Feed Store in Woodbury to take to farmers in Vidalia, helping to meet needs of storm victims in East Georgia. The 5th District team also raised more than $5,000 to help purchase much-needed diesel fuel, mixed gas, and other basic supplies.
On Oct. 2, GFB Middle Georgia Vice President Ralph Caldwell and Rep. David Huddleston drove a truckload of supplies on behalf of Ephesus Church and Heard Co. Farm Bureau to Macedonia Church of God in Jeff Davis Co. where the church distributed them. Pastor Van McCall has opened his church as a distribution point to get supplies to the Snipesville Community for the past two weeks.
Members of the GFB YF&R Committee first loaded up a trailer full of water, food and other supplies with the help of the Alabama Farmers Federation YF&R Committee to take supplies to Echols County on Oct. 3 where they cooked for the community. Then the GFB YF&R Committee partnered with Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau on Oct. 7 to serve more than 1,000 meals for Jeff Davis residents affected by the storm.
Residents of the Hazlehurst area received a hot BBQ chicken meal on Oct. 4 thanks to the generosity of the Villa Rica FFA Chapter & the Carroll County Farm Bureau. The Villa Rica FFA, advised by Bennett Jacobs, donated 50 plates while CCFB donated 250 plates. Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau shared the plates with a local nursing home, the Jeff Davis County Sherriff’s Department and the community at large. Even though they had sustained storm damage, Betty Sue and James Emory Tate had been delivering meals and supplies to those who needed them, and Jamie helped assemble the BBQ plates the afternoon of Oct. 4.
Hart County Farm Bureau and Elbert County Farm Bureau partnered to take two trailer loads of donated supplies to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 5, working alongside Burke County Farm Bureau President Lee Webster.
Numerous examples of farmers helping farmers have been posted on Facebook and the Friends of Georgia Farm Bureau Facebook group page in the past two weeks. If we’ve overlooked anyone we apologize. Feel free to share what you've done by posting it on the page.
Helene wasn’t the only storm for which Georgia farmers offered help. As Floridians evacuated for Hurricane Milton this week, GFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Stephanie Branch opened her Rabun County ranch to allow evacuated horse owners to board their horses and park their trailers.
Jennifer Whittaker contributed information to this article.
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