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(L to R]: Kayla Seman, Edison State Agriculture Student, Terry
Holliman, Owner of Napa-Holliman
Auto Supply, Brad Lentz, Agriculture
Program Director at Edison State, Casey Lentz, Volunteer, and
Jen
Knick, Agriculture Adjunct Instructor at Edison State.
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Edison State Agriculture Program Helps with
Flood Relief Efforts
Students in the Edison State Community College agriculture program
recently took it upon themselves to help farmers and families who were
devastated by flooding across the Midwest.
Students collected items such as first aid supplies, cleaning supplies,
personal hygiene products, painting supplies, tools and building
supplies, livestock supplies, and monetary donations. Donations were
delivered to the small-town of Hamburg, Iowa, which is home to Edison
State agriculture student, Kayla Seman.
“We left on our journey to Hamburg, Iowa, on Thursday, April 25, at 6
a.m. and we made it to Riverton, Iowa, at about 7 p.m.,” said Brad
Lentz, Edison State Agriculture Program Director. “We unloaded the
truck with the help of volunteers at the school, which was set-up like
a general store with donations of all types.”
Later that day, the group of volunteers from Edison State visited
downtown Hamburg to survey the damage.
“The water had just recently receded from the southern part of the
town, which was virtually abandoned and looked like a war zone. Homes
and business were gutted with all of their contents sitting out on the
curb. Some of the buildings were underwater for nearly 50 days as flood
waters reached as high as 12-feet,” said Lentz.
The volunteers spent the second day in Hamburg at a local Napa Auto
Parts store cleaning display shelves and sprucing up the storefront.
“The shelves were caked with mud, making it a challenge to clean
without running water or electricity,” added Lentz.
“Everywhere you looked was destruction and devastation. It will take
months if not years for the town to return to normal. It is sad to say
that many of the homes are not repairable and the families will most
likely move out of the town. It was a humbling experience, to say the
least.”
As they left for home, the volunteers witnessed the most eye-opening
experience of their trip.
“We drove back through Hamburg and took a road south about 20 miles to
the town of Rockport, Missouri, where we then merged onto Interstate
29. We traveled on I-29 South for about 70 miles, and the whole time we
could look to the west and see water that looked like an ocean, water
that was not supposed to be there,” said Lentz.
“We were glad to help with what little bit we did, but Hamburg and the
many other communities and families along the Missouri River all need
continued support and prayers. Thousands of acres of land, homes, and
businesses remain underwater and will be for some time.”
The Edison State Agriculture Department wishes to thank the following
individuals and businesses for their contribution to these efforts:
Rowland Trucking of Greenville for donating the use of 24’ Box Truck to
haul the donations. Jeff and Teresa Beanblossom and Union City Country
Club for sponsoring the rental van to transport volunteers who assisted
with the cleanup effort. The families of Chuck and Terri Ward and
Charles and Rosemary Ward of Riverton, Iowa, for their hospitality. Dan
Subler of Maria Stein for volunteering to drive the box truck to and
from Iowa. Kayla Seman, Jen Knick, and Brad and Casey Lentz who served
as members of the cleanup crew. All of the Edison State Agriculture
students that solicited donations and organized the effort. The staff
of Edison State that organized donations and answered phone calls.
Thanks to the following businesses and individuals that made monetary
or supply donations: Ace Hardware-Greenville, Andersons Marathon
Ethanol-Greenville, Ansonia Auto Parts, Ansonia FFA Alumni, Ansonia
Lumber Company, Ashes to Beauty Salon, Brad and Casey Lentz, Bruns
Animal Clinic, Carl Hunt Custom Butchering, Casey’s General Store,
Darke County Vet, Dave Knapp Ford, Deb and Gene Niekamp, Family
Health-Greenville, Farm Credit Service, Francis Furniture, Greenville
Fire Department, Greenville National Bank, Grilliot Farms, Janice
Michael, Jaylene Garbig, Jeanette Stark, Urban and Irene Gehret, Jen
Knick, Jim and Jinny Hale, Keller Grain and Feed, Kenny and Sarah
Edwards, Lori and Roy Seman, Lowell and Penny Kissinger, Mary and Greg
Knick, Mary Jane Edwards, Matt Aultman, Patty’s IGA-Bradford, Pleasant
Hill Marathon, Post 66, Premier Crop Insurance, Rhonda Rich, Roy and
Kayla Seman, Jr., Rural King-Greenville, Scott Zumbrink, Tammy
Tollefson, Teresa Miller, Treaty Mills, Tractor Supply
Company-Greenville, Versailles Feed Mill, Werling Meats, Whistle Stop,
and Winner Meats.
Thanks to the organizations who collected donations: Edison State
Community College-Greenville and Piqua Campuses, Twin Valley South FFA,
Ansonia FFA, Franklin Monroe FFA, Versailles FFA, Doug and Nicki Garke,
and all Greenville Bank Branches.
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Left: Brad Lentz and volunteers unload donated supplies as part of
flood relief effort in Hamburg, Iowa. Right:
Brad Lentz and volunteers
unload donated supplies as part of flood relief effort in Hamburg, Iowa.
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