Agency: Agriculture and Rural Development

MDARD Director, MI Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development Donate $1,000 to Wildfire Relief Efforts in the Plains States

Clover Adams, spouse pledge up to $3,000 in matching contributions to help ranchers recover and rebuild

For immediate release: March 31, 2017 Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

Lansing – Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams and her husband Lyle pledged $500 in personal monies toward a wildfire recovery fund being coordinated by Michigan farmers to help families, farms and ranches destroyed by wildfires in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Additionally, the Adams’ promised to match up to $3,000 in public contributions made toward the recovery efforts.

The string of deadly wildfires, which started on March 6, 2017, have scorched hundreds of square miles in four states and continue to burn a path through the heart of the U.S. leaving devastation in its wake. The fires, moving up to 70 miles per hour, was one of several burning across more than two million acres of farm and ranching land causing millions of dollars of damage and killing thousands of livestock.

“This is personal for Lyle and me. We lived in Kansas for nearly a decade. Our daughter was born in Kansas. These are our friends and colleagues who have lost nearly everything in this horrific natural disaster. The devastation is massive. They’re just beginning the long journey to rebuild homes and ranches and to care for the animals injured in the fire,” said Clover Adams. “Lyle and I were inspired by the grassroots support from Michigan farmers and so many in our rural communities. It’s time for us to step up and support our farming and ranching brothers, sisters and families in their time of need. I’m certain that if Michigan were devastated by a natural disaster of this magnitude, these folks would come to our aid. It’s what the agriculture community does. It’s who we are. It’s in our blood.”

Critical pastureland on farms and ranches in the nation’s Heartland has been ravaged by these wildfires. Family homes have burned to the ground. Thousands of animals have died. Ranchers and volunteers from all walks of life are working around the clock to rebuild fences and buildings, care for the healthy and injured animals, secure hay and other feed sources, and care for their families.

“This is the beginning of a long process of recovery and rebuilding. This is a marathon not a sprint,” added Clover Adams.

Additionally, the five members of the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development have also pledged personal funds to bring the initial donation to $1,000.

A GoFundMe page has been established for online donations at https://www.gofundme.com/plains-wildfire-jamie-clover-adams.

In addition, donations – cash or check -- can be made at any Chemical Bank location across the state. Make checks payable to Michigan Ag Community Wildfire Relief Fund. This account will be kept open, not just for this effort, but for any other future disasters as well.

Want to follow the donation and recovery efforts of the Michigan Ag Community Wildfire Relief Fund? Like the Michigan Convoy Facebook page. You can also follow these hashtags #WildfireRelief and/or #MichiganConvoy for more information.

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