Alberta farmers overwhelmed by community support

Oct 26, 2017

A community cleanup is scheduled to help the Orrs recover after a wildfire

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

A farming couple near Lethbridge, Alta. is shocked by the outpouring of support from friends, family and even strangers after a devastating wildfire.

Jocelyn and Laurry Orr lost all of their winter feed, more than 600 bales of hay, during a wildfire last week. The fire restarted a few days later, damaging the farm’s corrals and fences.

Since then, the Orr family has received an outpouring of community support.

“I think I’ve shed more tears as a result of the amazing people and their kindness and generosity than I did over the fire,” Jocelyn told Farms.com today. “We had people at our door immediately after the fire. I don’t even know how they got there that fast. We’ve had so many people come by, asking how they can help.”

When the Orrs begin to dig through rubble and debris this weekend, they won’t be alone.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, volunteers will help rebuild fences, pick up garbage, cut down trees and transport burnt items to the landfill.

Photo: Keeyah Wight/Facebook

For people to take time out of their busy schedules to land a hand to a farm family in need is heartwarming, Jocelyn says.

“We have people coming with tractors, dump trucks, chainsaws and a whole bunch of other equipment,” she said. “It’s going to be a wonderful day and hopefully we can get a lot done rebuilding fences and corrals.”

People across the country are doing what they can to help, too.

Other farmers have offered to donate hay and green feed, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $14,000, and proceeds from a November Peter Katz concert in Ontario will be donated to help Laurry and Jocelyn get back on their feet.

Despite the long road ahead of them, the journey won’t deter the family from continuing to raise beef, Jocelyn said.

“My husband works full time for AFSC (Agriculture Financial Services Corporation), I work full time, and the two of us work full time on the farm too,” she said. “But we’re going to find out the best way to stay in agriculture.”

Top photo: Keeyah Wight/Facebook

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