As soon as Texas ranchers from out of Hurricane Harvey’s impact zone realized that the devastating hurricane would put more than a million Coastal Bend cattle in jeopardy, they sent out a distress signal and put into action a relief effort involving hundreds of volunteers, trailers, big-rig trucks and countless bales of hay, not to mention other feedstuff, fencing materials, and basic human needs.

Someone contacted the Texas National Guard. See http://bit.ly/2y1yicD  

Reports were posted on the Wildfire and Disaster Relief web page http://bit.ly/2xiUiSj

Some posted the need for help on Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. Some texted or emailed. A few likely just picked up the phone and passed along the information.

The response is overwhelming. Convoys of trailers from across the country have carried thousands of bales of hay into South Texas to help feed thousands of head of cattle stranded in floodwaters or isolated in areas where ranchers can’t reach them.

Jimbo and Shelia Grissom hauled a trailer load of hay from Seminole, Texas, up in the Panhandle, down to South Texas. They encountered a bit of mechanical difficulty on the way but found folks willing and able to help make repairs and speed them on their way. Shelia and Jimbo also helped with recovery efforts when devastating wildfires blazed across the Texas Panhandle last spring. It’s not an uncommon thing in farm country for folks to step up and help their neighbors—even those 1,000 miles away.

Shelia graciously agreed to record some of their journey for Southwest Farm Press, and we are most appreciative.