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An Ashley business owner partnered with a Marion County church to lend a hand to Florida farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Ian.
Herd Livestock owner and operator Nate Fox and Ashley Barr have started a drive to collect items to donate to farmers and ranchers in Southwest Florida. Fox and Barr have set up a trailer at The Shepherd’s Fellowship in Marion at 1647 Marysville Road, Marion, and are currently accepting donations. They plan to head south on October 24 to deliver the supplies to farmers for the past several weeks.
Most of the relief efforts focused on helping people in Florida, Fox said, he and Barr want to focus on helping agricultural operators who have lost livestock or whose animals are in dire need of help.
“What we want to do is get supplies and go down there and help the animals,” said Fox, a pet transportation company. “If you’re a small farmer,[a hurricane or other natural disaster]can completely destroy your farm. On large farms, it’s a big loss that takes a while to recover. Even on small farms, you can recover from it, but it can take years.”
Barr informed that this year was especially difficult for farmers across the country.
“In 2022 alone, we lost a lot of farmers to the drought in Texas and the West. Now to see dairy farmers getting hit from (the hurricane), it’s going to hurt milk and beef,” she said. “It affects the value that comes back to your table.”
Barr said she has been in contact with agricultural operators in Southwest Florida and has shared what she has learned from them about their needs.
“Last time we tested, there were 14 horses on Pine Island[in Lee County, Florida, west of Fort Myers]that didn’t make it out before the storm hit,” Barr said. “There were 48 horses outside of Venice[located in Sarasota County, Florida]that they couldn’t get out and they were still standing in the water. There were a lot of dairy farmers who lost a lot of cattle and a lot of barns. So, the goal is to fill our horse trailer with supplies and we’re going down to October 24th. Donate enough to fill it up again.” If we’re left, that would be great, we’ll reload and take whatever we have left. Down there.”
Barr contacted Humane Society branches in Southwest Florida who told her they didn’t have more room to accept animals, but were looking for donations to help the abandoned animals in their area. She spoke to a veterinarian in Sarasota County who said they were working with a livestock operator who lost 200 calves in floodwaters and many calves were suffering from pneumonia.
Fox and Barr said they accept donations of hay, treats, bedding, dog and cat food, water and non-perishable food items. He said that monetary donations will be accepted so that people who do not have the items will be asked to purchase the items themselves.
The Rev. Tom Hypes, pastor of Shepherd’s Union, where Fox and Barr attend church, said he’s happy for parishioners to lend a helping hand to those in need in Florida or anywhere else.
“Nate and Ashley have a great heart for people in need,” Hypes said. Part of our mission is to help spread the word for help. Nate and Ashley left the trailer in the church parking lot so people can donate items directly to the trailer if they like. If people want to donate money, they can donate through (Shepherd’s Union).
Hypes said donations can be made online through The Shepherd Fellowship website, www.tsflife.com. Click on the “Give” tab and then designate the donation as Florida, Hypes said. He pointed out that all contributions to the project are tax deductible.
Donations of goods or money will be accepted until October 23rd.
For information on helping with this effort, contact Fox and Barr through the Herd Livestock Facebook and Instagram pages or call 614-499-2400.
Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
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