Lone heifer raises $90,000 to help Kansas wildfire recovery

The heartland opened its heart – and its wallet – in a big way Thursday to help victims of the recent wildfire in southern Kansas, the largest in the state’s history.

A lone heifer auctioned in Pratt, Kansas, raised more than $90,000 for relief efforts.

In a classic case of neighbor helping neighbor, folks from across Kansas placed bids in person, online and by phone for the progressive auction held at Pratt Livestock.

“People have been very generous,” Jake Lewis, the auction market's general manager, told Kansas Agland.

The heifer was donated by David Clawson of Plains, Kansas, president-elect of the Kansas Livestock Association.

Pratt Livestock started the action with a $20,000 bid.

“Then we just kept selling her,” Lewis said.

She was re-sold several times, each time the highest bidder ponying up their bid.

She eventually sold for $3 a pound, double her market value.

The money will go to a fund set up by the livestock association to help fire victims. Not including the sale of the heifer, donations had reached nearly $60,000 as of Thursday.

High winds spread the fire, which started in northern Oklahoma on March 22, into the Kansas counties of Barber and Comanche, destroying 574 square miles of largely unpopulated land.

Damage to livestock, fencing, hay supplies and water systems has been estimated at more than $1 million, but that amount is expected to grow.

Some of the cattle who survived the blaze are now reportedly suffering from respiratory problems because of smoke inhalation. Some were burned by the fires.

Agencies across the state – including the livestock association, Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Department of Agriculture – have teamed up to help farmers and ranchers who suffered losses.

This week the groups toured damaged areas in Barber County and met with more than two dozen farmers and ranchers.

The hard part?

Counting the number of livestock killed, John Schlageck with the Kansas Farm Bureau told KMUW public radio in Wichita.

“There was a lot of loss of little babies out there – little baby calves and newborn calves,” he said. “That’s really tough on those guys out there, because they have a lot of genetics and lot of years and time invested in those cattle.”

Schlageck said relief efforts will involve connecting, “those willing to donate supplies and offer labor with the people out there who actually need help.”

On Thursday, one lone heifer did her part.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Lone heifer raises $90,000 to help Kansas wildfire recovery."