As Farm Rescue, a Midwestern nonprofit that helps farmers in crisis, marks its 20th anniversary this year, it is introducing a brand refresh and redesign of its website farmrescue.org.
Based in Horace, North Dakota, Farm Rescue is the only nonprofit organization of its kind to deploy volunteers, equipment, and compassion to farm and ranch families facing crises that threaten their operations and legacies.
Since its launch in 2005 by Founder & President Bill Gross, Farm Rescue has helped nearly 1,200 families. Its mission is to help farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major illness, injury, or natural disaster.
“While our needs have changed since we started our nonprofit, the realities facing farmers and ranchers in need of assistance have not,” Mr. Gross said in a news release. “Not only will this rebrand help to align our presentation and messaging more closely with our mission, but the website will help us be even more accessible to donors, prospective volunteers, and most importantly, the families we serve.”
Farm Rescue is dependent on donations and partner support to fuel its efforts. Since its inception 20 years ago, Farm Rescue has expanded its core planting, haying, and harvesting assistance services. It now includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. It also offers emergency hay deliveries to states affected by fire, floods, and other natural disasters. Donations can come from anywhere.
Dan Erdmann is Farm Rescue’s director of communications. He and staff members spend countless hours documenting Farm Rescue’s work. That includes highlighting the efforts of Farm Rescue volunteers in the field and the impact it has on farm families it serves.
How new website helps
These vignettes also aim to help families overcome the stigma of reaching out for help by showing they’re not alone.
“Our new site helps us in a number of ways,” Mr. Erdmann said in the release. “First, it clearly defines the types of assistance we provide for farmers and ranchers and where we operate. Second, it shares the stories of our wonderful volunteers both to celebrate their efforts and inspire others to join us. Finally, it highlights the stories of families we’ve assisted, which speak to other families who may be hesitant to ask for help.”
Noting that change can be difficult for some, Mr. Gross said “our team knew it was time to refine how we present ourselves to the world. Our ability to grow was on the line, and with it, the ability to help more farmers and ranchers throughout the region and beyond. The decision was easy to make once we stepped back and realized what was at stake.”
The new website also was launched in anticipation of Giving Hearts Day. It was held this year on Thursday, Feb. 13. The fundraiser for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota raised more than $1 million, Farm Rescue said Friday, Feb. 14.
“Farm Rescue has always been able to depend upon our friends for assistance, and this year they stepped up in a big way,” Tim Sullivan, Farm Rescue’s executive director, said in a separate news release. “With the help of several longtime supporters who offered to match the first $500,000 in donations, we received an outpouring of support from families and businesses across the United States.”
Donors raised $1.19M+
Farm Rescue donors and partners raised a total of $1,196,454.96. That far surpasses the previous Giving Hearts Day record of $278,316.96 set in 2024. This year’s sum was provided by 670 donors from 33 U.S. states. That compares to 589 donors from 30 states last year.
Farm Rescue joins over 600 charities and nonprofits throughout North Dakota and northwest Minnesota for this annual event. The effort rallies community members around the causes closest to their hearts.
Farm Rescue employs six full-time staff members. They are based in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa and serve a nine-state service territory. Its main office is just south of Fargo, North Dakota.
Applications for assistance are currently being accepted and can be obtained at farmrescue.org or by calling (701) 252-2017.
