A Harvest
Farm Rescue assists Wright County farmers during health crises. Time was of the essence to bring in a drying soybean crop. Thanks to Farm Rescue, the soybeans were harvested in just the right time.
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rant Woodley of Clarion began farming in 1997. As part of his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for FFA, he rented 80 acres. It was then that he started his career in farming. Through college and marriage to his wife Nicole, the Woodleys’ farming operation grew with more acres and the addition of a hog barn. This year’s harvest was different. Woodley couldn’t be in the truck hauling his crop to market. Nor was he able to assist their longtime farming partners and neighbors, the Zwiefels, with their harvest. Instead, his days have been filled with therapy. Therapy to help him recover from brain abscesses and multiple neurosurgeries from a diagnosis he received in March. As if that wasn’t enough, Nicole was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer doctors suspect is a side effect of radiation treatments she received to combat breast cancer a decade ago.
Bringing in the harvest Realizing they couldn’t manage this year’s harvest on their own, the Woodleys turned to Farm Rescue, who brought in 10 | DECEMBER 2023 | IASOYBEANS.COM
the machinery and harvest crew to help harvest their 500 acres of soybeans. “Coordinating harvest is a lot even when you’re not sick, so for them to come do this is awesome,” says Grant, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-member. Farm Rescue’s mission is to help family farms and ranches bridge crises so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations. It’s available for various needs for farm and ranch families experiencing a major injury, illness or natural disaster. “It’s all about providing a hand up, not a handout,” says Dan Erdmann, Farm Rescue marketing program manager. “We do not give money away; we offer tangible field support to get farmers and ranchers through one season, to keep them going for the next season.” When it came time to harvest soybeans back in October, the Woodleys stood back, reflected on the past growing season and voiced their gratitude. “Their help has allowed us to rest,” says Nicole, adding the help has put them at ease. “It is one less thing keeping us up at night.”
BY KRISS NELSON
Farm partners Mark Zweifel’s combine ran sideby-side Farm Rescue’s combine in the Woodley’s soybean fields. The Woodley and Zweifel family partnership dates back four generations. “This is pretty humbling,” says Zweifel. “Grant and Nicole have been through a lot this summer. Farm Rescue has really come through; we would have gotten the harvest done, but time is of the essence, and we appreciate the help.” Everything has gone smoothly, and they are a great organization to work with.”
Asking for help Grant says he isn’t afraid to ask for help, but appreciates the encouragement he received from Bre Wagner, ISA producer services manager, Iowa Corn, and others who helped write and submit the application for assistance. “Our job on the producer services team at the Iowa Soybean Association is to assist farmers by connecting them to programming and resources that help them farm better and be more profitable,” says Wagner.
