Author: Kendal Bowman
Planning Unit: Owen County CES
Major Program: Tornado Response and Recovery
Plan of Work: Enhancing Sustainable Livestock and Forage Production
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
On December 10th, 2021 many Kentuckians lives were changed forever. The Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service stepped up to aid many families affected by the deadly tornadoes. The Extension Service provided relief by collecting materials, providing shelters, and providing meals. One instance in particular, Marshall County Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Nikki Rhein was overwhelmed and exhausted from her efforts serving her devastated community. With Extension being the big family we are, Owen County Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Kendal Bowman teamed up with Nikki to aid in providing relief and resources. Kendal became acquainted with a Marshall County beef producer who has suffered some great losses. As his house was a complete loss, lost three barns, fence laid over, cattle dead, this producer looked at Kendal, from a vehicle he had to borrow cause his truck was totaled, and said "things could be worse". Kendal looked at this producer that's lost in disbelief. The producer began to tell Kendal how he was raising his grandson. His grandson loved farming so he bought this farm a few years ago for him. His grandson passed away about a year and a half ago. His wife had also lost her son at 8 years old years ago. This producer went into a deep depression and the global pandemic didn't help his mental health. His farm became his therapy session. A place he could escape from reality and grow what his grandson loved, but now everything's gone. Right after the tornado the producer told Kendal he felt like giving up. Farmer suicided rates are at a all time high. Since Nikki was pulled a thousand different ways Kendal made it his personal mission to provide the resources to help the producers mental health during this crises. Kendal & Nikki worked with many state Extension holders and gathered over $20,000 worth of materials to help this producer get back on his feet. This producer was not a traditional Extension client but during the recovery efforts he inquired more about the services offered. Just the other day he attended a local beef meeting and plans to attend more. In Kendal's 5 years with Extension this is probably one of his most rewarding efforts. Meeting a farmer at the end of his rope and seeing his mental health improve to the point he sees hope and has plans for his farm, his grandsons dreams.
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