Out of the ashes rose generosity and help for flood victims

STANFORD — News spread rapidly in the aftermath of a devastating barn fire last July that caused an estimated $1 million in damage to Stanfordville farmer John Kemmerer’s stored equipment and hay. Response was quick as his wide community of friends sprang into action to raise funds to assist with purchasing new equipment.

Progress in acquiring replacements for the farm equipment has been steady, evidenced during a conversation with Kemmerer on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The fire on the 100 acre hay farm had raged on Thursday, July 18, a hot blaze fueled by stored hay, ruining the equipment stored in the affected barns.

Three barns, the office, and all equipment had been lost in the fire, along with a huge percentage of the stored hay, Stanford Town Supervisor Wendy Burton said.

“Multiple area fire companies assisted in fighting the fire,” Burton said. “It smoldered for many days.”

Since the fire, Kemmerer said he has purchased numerous pieces of equipment, including a 2014 Ford F530 flatbed truck, a JCB hay telehandler and a Norden hay accumulator, and a John Deere 348 baler. He has also purchased a New Holland skid steer.

Coming in January will be a new Quonset-shaped metal structure measuring 40 x 80 x 20 to store hay, Kemmerer said, pleased to be anticipating its delivery. Other barns on the property offer sufficient winter storage space for the equipment, Kemmerer said.

Since the fire, equipment purchase costs have been partly covered by insurance and largely covered by the generosity of friends and community residents.

“The community outpouring was just amazing,” Kemmerer said. He particularly noted the efforts of Dani Nicholson, who he said was instrumental in helping with the fundraising effort by visiting local businesses and community members who gave generously.
“There were just so many local friends,” Kemmerer said.

An early thought of town supervisor Burton’s had been, “We can do a fundraiser and maybe even a barn raising.” She recalled that volunteers had built a structure in the town park; perhaps they could do a barn raising.

Immediately following the fire, residents Julia Descoteaux and Steve Bruman launched a GoFundMe effort and a Kemmerer family friend, Courtney Haire, launched a similar fundraiser. By combining their efforts, they were able to reach further out into the community. All proceeds went directly to the Kemmerers, Burton said.

“Money started coming in immediately and it’s continued for quite a long time,” Burton said, roughly estimating total proceeds of $100,000 as of late October.

A live auction at Bangall Works had raised $25,000, enabling Kemmerer to purchase a used John Deere tractor that is in daily use.
“They are a beautiful family; the community came together to help,” Burton said. “What you put out into the world comes back to you.”

In the wake of the violent hurricanes and flooding experienced in North Carolina in the fall, Kemmerer responded with a shipment of hay to help farmers facing extreme loss.

Burton said the Kemmerer family’s impulses have consistently been to help their community’s needs. Accordingly, John Kemmerer sent a load of horse-quality hay to North Carolina. Kemmerer recalled the shipment consisted of 18 to 20 round bales. He added that he plans to send more soon.

One round bale is equivalent to 15 to 18 regular square bales, Kemmerer said. Round bales are generally more economical for farmers than purchasing standard square ones, he added.

Kemmerer’s daughter, Emily Hay, has started a family foundation, Century Farms Foundation Inc., to provide aid to long-established small farms and farmers in need. A goal is to sustain small family farms facing daunting competition from agribusiness ventures.