Local farmers deliver hope and more to North Carolina counterparts

At 2 a.m. Tuesday, when most of the world was asleep, the lights of 52 trucks pierced the dark, rainy skies as engines rumbled to life. The convoy of trucks driven by farmers from Lorain and Medina counties began the 12-hour drive down Interstate 77. Their destination was Boone, North Carolina, ravaged by Hurricane Helene. The trucks were loaded down with desperately needed hay for cattle and other livestock; food for people and pets, clothing and supplies ranging from nails and screws to diapers and formula. According to Kayleigh Keller, who with her brother, Kelton, organized the effort, perhaps the most important cargo they carried to their fellow farmers was hope. Boone is in Watauga County in western North Carolina. Large portions of the area were left in ruins when Hurricane Helene wrought fierce winds and torrential rain that caused never-seen-before flooding. Mountains gave way and resulting landslides destroyed everything in their paths. Farms nestled along streams in the mountain area known as High Country were obliterated. Homes, barns, tractors, trucks, crops and livestock were literally picked up and carried away in raging waters or buried in rock and mud. Two deaths have been reported, but many are still missing. The Kellers' childhood friend, Jimmy Foeking, lives there. Kelton reached out to see how he could help. He recalled Jimmy telling him, "They need whatever you can give." High on the list of needs was hay because fields were destroyed right in the middle of harvest. Many in the farming community raise beef and dairy cattle and the animals that survived would starve without hay, their primary food source. As cattle farmers themselves, Kelton and Kaleigh knew there would be little hope of recovery if farmers lost their surviving herds. After promising his friend he would bring him a truckload of hay from his farm, the brother and sister reached out through their family-owned Keller Meats Facebook page asking others to help. Their sister, Shanna, and Kelton's wife, Alyssa, jumped in to help. In two short weeks, the Kellers assembled a convoy of 52 trucks ranging from semis to pickups hauling trailers to a food trailer. Donations poured in. Kelton recalled the emotions he felt as he accepted an anonymous donation from a woman who walked into Keller Meats and simply handed him a $500 check as she held back tears. He also received a note from a woman in Michigan who said she was on a fixed income, but wanted to help. Enclosed was $14. In all, $50,000 was raised, allowing Kelton to purchase hay to add to the supply farmers were donating and to cover some transportation expenses. When they left the area Tuesday morning, they were hauling 200 tons of hay. In addition, trailers were filled with food and household necessities; medical supplies including IV fluids and EpiPens; toys, stuffed animals, coloring books and pumpkins for children; and an assortment of tools and items North Carolina farmers would need as they continued to clean up and begin rebuilding. In the convoy was Avon resident Tom Hricovec. His trailer was filled with hay and supplies. He explained his family had been farming for generations. The popular Tom's Country Place on Stoney Ridge Road is located on the family's farm property. He said this was not the first time he and his family had pitched in to help other farmers in need, recalling how his family delivered hay and supplies to the train depot in Sheffield during severe droughts in the 1980s. On this trip, nearly a dozen family members – a brother, nephew and cousins – were driving other vehicles headed to North Carolina. Riding with Hricovec were Frank Krupka of North Ridgeville and his son, Frankie. In addition to the hay he donated, Krupka said he'd walked through his barn grabbing supplies he could spare that would help others as they rebuilt. Kayleigh, who had taken on the job of routing the trucks once they arrived in Boone, sent "the hay haulers" to Wautaga County Agriculture Center, while others went to the nonprofit "Wine to Water," which was being used as a receiving and distribution center for residents in need of food, clothing and personal or household items. A few trucks, loaded with silage hay, a fermented wet hay, were sent on to nearby dairy farms and a load of dry hay went to a horse farm. Waiting at the Ag Center to welcome and thank the Ohioans were a number of residents, including Gail Winebarger. She was there at the request of her son, Andrew Ellis, a cattle farmer who also worked as a crew leader lineman for Blue Ridge Energy. Ellis had spent every waking hour since the storm restoring electric service, his mom said. Like many farmers, he has a second job to make ends meet. He also owns Ellis Cattle Company and 200 head of Angus cows and calves that graze on nine area farms whose land he leases. The Ohio hay will help Ellis feed his herd because they were unable to get to their second cutting of hay. "I cannot thank everybody enough," she said. Winebarger's description of the hurricane's impact contained harrowing and heartbreaking detail. She recalled how her family members went down on their knees to pray as Andrew drove his tractor through fast moving water to reach them because all the roads were blocked or gone. "The water was up to the top of the back tires. We just prayed he wouldn't be washed away." They had good reason to worry. As flood waters receded, everything from a gable roof to washing machines and stoves, cars, furniture, huge trees and boulders were left behind. Kayleigh said she saw not one, but two, rail cars turned on their sides, the last of their contents spewing from them. Winebarger said one of her neighbors found both of his tractors in a sea of mud .The power of the water had flipped both upside down and the only things showing were the tires. She said another neighbor, unable to get back to his property, asked her to check out damage. The Winebargers drove their tractor to reach it as cars couldn't. She had to tell him that, not only had his home been lifted off its foundation, it had then been buried in a landslide. Everything was gone. That was the case for so many. Frankie Krupka had accompanied his dad and Hricovec on the trip, anxious to help where he could. As they delivered supplies, he talked with a few residents. "You could tell they were exhausted," he said. A family of five had a cart containing food, blankets, toiletries, charcoal and dog food. An older man was looking for hiking boots for himself and his school-age grandson. Krupka was told they needed decent boots so they could help others. The man, who Krupka estimated was in his mid-60s, described how he had to walk to his mother's house to check on her following the storm. Several Ohioans remarked that staff and residents were amazed — and very grateful — at the number of people who made the trip and the amount of things they hauled. Frankie Krupka was told by extension staff at the Ag Center that the hay — 200 tons of it — would go very quickly because some had lost their entire stock in the storm. The Ohio effort was meant to support lives and livestock as well as bring a little fun to residents who had so much hard work ahead of them. Kayleigh learned that a fall festival, which contributed substantial financial support to the community, was canceled due to Helene. Pieces bagan to fall into place so that Ohioans could give their counterparts a little something to smile about. Working with staff at Wine to Water, she organized a mini festival. Key to that was Medina's Swine BBQ. Owner Brian Hilberg hauled his food truck, packed with donated meat, so locals could have a hot cooked meal. He and his twin daughters. Isabella and Sophia, served hundreds of meals on Wednesday. The Kelley family donated a truckload of pumpkins for kids to carve or decorate. Wine to Water staff asked a group of local school children and Latina dancers to perform. Kayleigh said the dancers told her they were rescued by swift water rescue boats when their trailer park was inundated by rains and flooding. On the ride back to Ohio, Kayleigh received a text from a local mom named Karen thanking them for the pumpkins. Karen said she cried when her husband called to say he was bringing home two pumpkins for their daughter. The little girl is being treated for brain cancer and her parents weren't sure how they would ever find the pumpkin she wanted for Halloween. Kayleigh and Kelton said that farmers are proud and don't like asking for help. "This time they had to," Kelton said. "You could just see they are so grateful," Kayleigh said. As proof, Kelton described a conversation he and another Ohio farmer had with a cattle farmer. He told them he lost 98 of his 100 head of cattle. The Ohio man reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100 bill, offering it to him. He told them, "No, thank you. My neighbor has it worse. Give it to them." Kelton said another run to Carolina might happen, but many, many details need to be worked out. He said he filled two notebooks with logistics details, names, contact information and more as they prepared for this trip. From time to time, others had to write down the name of a donor or other information while he was handling something else. "I never anticipated it would grow to 52 trucks," he said. Both Kellers said this feat could not have happened without community support. Hricovec said it only made sense. "I'm doing what I was taught to do," he said. Contact Michele Murphy at avonlakemurphy@gmail.com.