By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

**Click here to download the audio recording of this week’s column**

Recently, massive wildfires destroyed hundreds of square miles of grazing land in Kansas and Oklahoma. The Anderson Creek fire started on March 22 in northwestern Oklahoma, and it quickly spread north to the neighboring Sunflower State. In less than a week, nearly 400,000 acres of prairie and ranch land went up in flames. 

Firefighting teams from across Kansas rallied to combat the blaze. Black Hawk helicopters from the Kansas National Guard were also deployed to bolster fire suppression efforts. After days of tireless work, the teams eventually succeeded in containing the outbreak. Still, these wildfires will go down as the largest ever recorded in Kansas’ history. 

Our neighbors in Kansas lost homes, equipment, fences, hay, and livestock. One can only imagine the anxiety and uncertainty Kansans felt looking out across acres of charred earth as they wondered how to rebuild their lives and continue providing for their families. 

In Nebraska, agriculture drives our state’s economy. We understand the drastic impact this terrible event will have on local communities. We also know that the dangers of extreme weather are very real.

In times of loss, however, there are often inspiring signs of resilience and compassion. For example, at a family ranch in Chase County, Kansas, the fires came close to a calving pasture. Thirteen calves were born just before the fire broke out. Fortunately, as the fire approached, the county’s fire department acted quickly to keep all the calves safe. The fire department also ensured that buildings and homes remained standing. 

Word of these wildfires spread fast through news and social media. The Kansas Livestock Association, as well as other farmers and ranchers, needed help to feed their cattle. Nebraskans saw this dire situation and acted. Two groups, led by Troy and Meghan Anderson of South Central Cattlemen and the Thayer County Feeders, loaded trailers with hay and headed to Kansas to deliver these much-needed feed supplies. 

Additionally, the Nebraska Cattlemen organized an aid drive, which allows producers from across our state to donate supplies to their counterparts in Kansas. These recovery efforts, under the banner of “Cattlemen helping Cattlemen,” are up and running. If you or someone you know would like to join this cause, you can visit the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Facebook page. Additional information is also available on the Kansas and Oklahoma Livestock Foundations’ websites.

Our state’s greatest treasure is our people. Not only are we tough and hardworking, we are also generous neighbors. It makes me proud to see Nebraskans display such compassion toward our friends in Kansas during this time of need. We value community, and I know the citizens of Kansas appreciate this generosity. 

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.