Montana Farm Bureau Foundation Establishes Disaster Relief Fund

The Remington Fire that blasted up from northern Wyoming into southeastern Montana in late August burned 196,000 acres of grass, trees, hay, barns and most devastatingly, livestock. With erratic high winds and hot temperatures, ranchers had scant time to evacuate their animals. Livestock losses will not be entirely known until cattle are gathered this fall, but the loss is predicted to be substantial. Hearing about those losses caused ranchers across the state to step up to help.

During their annual meeting Sept. 5, Big Horn County Farm Bureau members discussed ways to help ranchers who suffered huge livestock losses in the Remington Fire. Knowing that current donations were going for hay and fencing and realizing it would take time for the affected ranchers to grow grass again, the county Farm Bureau decided it would be best to help ranchers rebuild their herd next fall.

After extensive discussions and suggestions, the group determined that the simplest idea was for other ranchers to sell a cull cow, then donate the money from the bovine to the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation’s newly formed Disaster Relief Fund. The Disaster Relief Fund will take general donations for any disaster relief. Ranchers can apply for that money to purchase livestock or for other ranch needs.

“It is a win-win working through the Foundation, as ranchers who donate money from their cull cows (or money in general) receive a tax deduction and ranchers who apply for funding can begin rebuilding their herds,” said Big Horn County Farm Bureau Secretary Gina Stevens. “It’s wonderful to see how generous everyone has been in helping ranchers rebuild following natural disasters such as the Remington Fire. We’re thrilled we were able to work with the MFB Foundation to establish general disaster relief fund.”

The Foundation has begun taking donations at http://mfbf.org/Foundation/Donate-Today. Mail checks to Montana Farm Bureau Foundation, 100 Red Mountain Drive, Suite 101, Bozeman, MT 59718. Please note in the memo that the check is for the Disaster Relief Fund.

Questions? Call the Montana Farm Bureau at 406-587-3153.