Wild Fires Auction Quilt

The last week has been challenging  and scary for the Texas Panhandle, along with parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. Wild fires have ravaged the central plains and lives have been lost. Few people not living in the area or involved in agriculture were even aware of it while the fires were burning . For the most part, it's been ignored by mainstream media, but that's a whole nother soapbox. People who do not make their living in agriculture have said, "It's just cows", but they couldn't be more wrong. When you depend on those 'cows' for your livelihood, for putting a roof over your head and food in your children's mouths, it becomes so much more than that. Ranching is not just a paycheck or a job. It's not just what you do. It's who you are and in the past week, we've seen people rise up and come together in support of those who are grieving, dealing with huge losses, and those who fought to contain the fires that caused so much devastation. In the Texas Panhandle alone, there were over 1500 hd of cattle lost and 500,000 acres were burned. That's land that provided feed for cattle and other livestock. Total cattle numbers have not yet been tallied, but it will number in the thousands and 2 million acres in all have burned.

In Kansas, we know the Gardiner family, that lost over 500 hd alone and 80% of their land was burned. We have attended their Bull sale in years past and the ranch has purchased bulls from them. They lost their home as well, but thankfully, no lives were lost. We know John Erickson, of Hank the Cowdog fame, and he lost his home as well when the fire burned his ranch.

7 people have lost their lives in these fires. In Texas, 3 young people, 2 of whom our daughter knew, gave their lives while trying to rescue stock.

Our girl read this online and it is said so well that I just had to share:

Tera Rooney Barnhardt said it best:

"This man lost his life's work in a fire. Generations of cow families that represent some of the best genetics in the industry. No one will march about this. No one will occupy any streets for this. No one will riot or loot or act ridiculously heinous for the cause. In middle America they'll put on their boots tomorrow, alongside their neighbors and friends, and they'll go to work. Because that's what builds a lifestyle for generations of middle Americans. Boots on the ground...even if it's on fire, blowing away, or filled with tears."

Thankfully, the fires have now been contained, thanks to the brave men and women who put their lives at stake to do so. The agricultural community is coming together in droves and donating hay and feed and water and supplies and auctioning off chaps and saddles and tack in order to raise money for those affected.

We wanted to help in some small way so our girl set us up to auction off this scrap quilt I made using western fabrics, a few years ago.

Originally I called it Back Roads, but I made a new label for the auction and now it is called "Panhandle Proud". People have coined that phrase and are selling t-shirts as a fund raiser so I made this label:

We wanted to include a scripture, but we couldn't decide which one so I turned to my dear friend and fellow ranch wife, M, and she texted me Psalm 46:1. So thank you, M. You have chosen the perfect one.

All proceeds are going to the WRCA Foundation  Wildfire Relief Fund. Here's the link to the auction post on FB if you would care to share it on your timeline.

Auction Link

I've had some inquiries as to how to donate so I've edited this post to add this link to an article that includes ways that donations are being accepted if you so choose. Thank you for your prayers and generosity.

WRCA Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund

In devastating circumstances, people come together, and not just in agriculture. We see it every time there is a need, but I will say that it warms your heart to see people drop everything and do what they can and many of you do that every day in your daily lives, many of you from behind your sewing machines, as you sew for charities and organizations and loved ones. When the world spins out of control, it's good to know that others are showing up, picking up the pieces, standing in the gap, praying without ceasing, thankful that God is in control.