The president and founder of Farm Rescue, Bill Gross, will be inducted into the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, at the North Dakota Winter Show Arena. The Hall of Fame was established as a way to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the state's leading industry, which is agriculture.
Gross founded Farm Rescue in 2006 to help farmers who have experienced major illness, injury or natural disaster. The nonprofit organization utilizes sponsored equipment and volunteers to provide planting or harvesting assistance free of charge to farm families facing unexpected crises.
He grew up on a family farm near Cleveland, received pilot training at the University of North Dakota, and is employed as a Boeing 747 captain for UPS Airlines, but his heart never left the farm. He kept thinking about what could be done about the changing demographics of the rural communities. The trend of fewer family farms and even fewer young adults continuing the family farming tradition concerned him greatly.
He decided to start a nonprofit organization that farm families could turn to for help during unexpected crises. His love of farming and passion for helping people has evolved into a regional nonprofit organization currently operating in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Iowa. The organization has helped more than 200 farm families.
"It is truly an honor to be inducted into the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame. My goal of creating a viable organization that helps farm families during unexpected crises has become a reality. Farm Rescue provides an excellent avenue for businesses and volunteers to help farm families and rural communities," Gross said in a press release. "I wish for the mission of Farm Rescue to continue for future generations with good-hearted volunteers, sponsors and supporters who desire to leave a legacy of helping farm families and rural communities."
Farm Rescue is currently accepting applications for the 2013 planting season. Please submit applications early so Farm Rescue can plan their planting route accordingly to help the maximum number of farm families. People may also anonymously nominate a family that could be hesitant to ask for assistance. Call 252-2017 or visit (farmrescue.org) to obtain more information, secure an application for assistance or nominate a family.
-Daily News Staff