WIBW-A/Topeka, Kansas Ag Network, Kansas Farm Bureau Help Ranches Ravaged By Wildfires

WIBW Relief Effort

ALPHA MEDIA News-Talk WIBW-A/TOPEKA, the KANSAS AG NETWORK, and KANSAS FARM BUREAU helped the ranches affected by the wildfires that swept across parts of KANSAS and OKLAHOMA with the delivery of 1,100 pounds of milk replacer. The fire ravaged over 500 square miles of grazing land and killed and injured cattle, leaving calves without mothers and an urgent need for milk replacer, and WIBW and the networks teamed to buy the replacer and ship it to the relief center four hours away.

Market Manager LARRY RIGGINS said, “On SATURDAY, my wife read a FACEBOOK post from a friend who raises cattle in the burned area, saying they had lost many cattle to the fire and those who survived had been separated from their calves, or were unable to nurse due to injuries.  They were in desperate need of milk replacement powder to help bottle feed these calves and give them a chance at survival. I immediately got on the phone with my Sales Manager for the KANSAS AG NETWORK, which serves this area, and he in turn called our friends at KANSAS FARM BUREAU to see what we could do to help. Within 20 hours of that first post, KELLY LENZ, our KAN Farm Director had made the necessary arrangements and we were able to deliver the milk replacer to ranchers in those affected counties. These ranchers have been through a lot.  Helping those in need is part of our DNA at ALPHA MEDIA, and it was the right thing to do.”

WIBW and KANSAS AG NETWORK reporter GREG AKAGI added, “We started driving on Highway 160 West out of MEDICINE LODGE; when we got about five miles out of town we saw what was basically scorched earth. It was very intimidating and humbling to see the power of wind and fire. It was literally like a desert. Your heart goes out to every rancher, their families and all the volunteer firefighters who did what they needed to do to limit property damage and loss of life. The 1,100 pounds of calf milk replacer, that we delivered was a small drop in helping those ranchers affected by the fires. The overwhelming amount of donations has been wonderful and really shows that agriculture takes care of agriculture."

« see more Net News