Title: Kentucky Disciples send hay to Florida, Texas farmers
Date: August 28, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98b-53
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Ewing, Ky., Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister is spearheading a hay drive to help drought stricken farmers in Northern Florida and South Texas.
Disciples congregations in six Kentucky counties sent 230 tons of hay to Florida in July. "Now we have redirected our efforts to send hay to Texas," said the Rev. Jason Moats, pastor of Ewing Christian Church. He also is a student at Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary.
Fire and drought in Northern Florida nearly destroyed the corn and hay crops, creating losses of more than $135 million, according to Florida Department of Agriculture officials. The livestock market lost an estimated $40 million as crop losses cut into food supplies for the cattle industry.
Officials with the Florida and Kentucky agriculture departments facilitated getting the hay shipment to drought stricken areas. Transportation was donated by two railroad companies.
Moats is looking for similar cooperation with the Texas hay drive. "We could help relieve a lot of stress, particularly in southeastern Texas and an area between San Antonio and Houston," he said. The Fort Stockton area near Houston has been particularly hard hit.
"Transportation is our biggest problem," he said. The CSX and Union Pacific railroads have tentatively agreed to provide 10 railcars for the Texas shipment. The cars are scheduled to be loaded the week of Sept. 7.
The idea for the hay drive evolved during a discussion Moats had with another LTS student, Holly Spencer. After a visit home to the Alabama/Northwest Florida region, Spencer commented on how the fire and drought had affected area farmers. The students then talked with central and eastern Kentucky farmers about providing assistance.
"This area may not have a lot of money or people to send down there. But it does have a lot of hay," Moats said. The Florida hay shipment was worth more than $11,500.
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