It only took 11 minutes for the EF4 Tornado to rip through Marshall County Kentucky on December 10th, 2021. The county suffered two deaths, countless close calls and an indescribable amount of destruction in its path, which was as wide as a mile in places. Many Marshall county farm families were effected by the storm and were going to need assistance. Nikki Rhein, Marshall County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources knew that she had an opportunity to help. On Dec.11th, Nikki started taking calls. Not knowing yet how she could help, she simply grabbed a pocket sized notebook and started cataloging contacts and details in it. At times during this first two week following the tragedy, Nikki was exchanging 20 calls a day, sometimes 30.

Identifying the farm families in need was going to be a very difficult task. Phone lines were up and down, once passable roads flipped back and forth, from being open to closed, repeatedly in the same day. Nikki partnered with everyone she could think of. She partnered with a member of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) who resides in Western Kentucky, the Marshall County NRCS representative, the Marshall County Young Farmer Educator, Marshall County USDA Executive Director, and the Manger of the Marshall County Coop. Each of these individuals played a crucial roll in locating farmers in need of assistance. This "team" focused firstly on the livestock producers because livestock containment was of the greatest concern. As they located farmer victims, they forwarded them to Nikki.
Remnants of the Ramsey Family Farm's barn in Marshall County KentuckyOnce identified, Nikki then reached out to each farmer by either calling or making a farm visit. She offered assistance by first listening to their stories. Many were still in shock and just needed someone to tell their story to. Once the producer was ready, Nikki guided them through the programs available to farmers that may be of assistance to them and then asked the farmers what they needed. I don't know if you have ever asked a Marshall County Kentucky farmer what they need but if you ever do, you will quickly learn that they are some of the proudest, most independent people you will ever meet. Nikki strategically asked for their immediate needs and reminded them that they don't need to take the blessing of helping away from those who are ready to assist. Once each farmer's individual needs were identified, they were combined into a county list. The list was then distributed by the KDA to the entire agriculture community.

The instant outpouring of assistance and donations that Nikki has had the privilege of funneling to her farmers thus far has been outstandingly generous. In one month, Nikki filled every page of her notebook (pictured.) It includes scribblings of information like victims, their stories, contact information and their needs, donors and their information, volunteer crews and their contacts, assistance program details, donated items and their location, etc. 

There is a long road ahead of this community before it can reach recovery. Nikki is staying exceedingly busy identifying new farmer victims, organizing the agriculture donations as they pour into the county, organizing and dispatching volunteers crews who continue to flock to the area and educating farmers on assistance programs as they are released. This is the most rewarding work that Nikki has done in her 8 year career with Extension and she looks forward to continuing her efforts to aid those effected by this disaster.