Two years ago yesterday, my Dad, Jay, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. My family faced both unimaginable loss and shock, and as my uncle and I stood on the deck after the funeral home left, we assumed everything on the farm would just have to be put on hold while we figured out what to do next. ​The next morning as Danielle and I drove back out to the farm with our boys, we saw dust already rising in the fields as a large crew local farmers jumped in to help, putting their own harvest on hold. Nearly 30 combines, dozens of trucks, tractors, augers, and grain carts filled our land. The local dealership sent mechanics to handle equipment, the bulk dealer kept every tank fueled, a group of ladies cooked meals to keep everyone going, and there were countless others who simply showed up and asked what they could do. ​In just 48 hours, more than half a season’s work was finished, and our entire harvest was safely taken off. Seeing some of the toughest farmers and ranchers you’ll ever meet working through tears for our family was an act of grace that is almost impossible to fully comprehend. It was an absolute miracle and a blessing from God. During that time, as my family saw this unfold, I learned that years earlier, my dad had quietly helped organize the exact same kind of harvest support for another neighbor who had fallen on hard times, and my late grandfather had done the same at another earlier time. This is testimony to the legacy of both our family and community. ​And so again, to our incredible community located here in the Special Areas, and to everyone who carried my wife, Danielle, me and our boys, along with my mom, Jodi, my two grandmas, Uncle Darren, my brother and sisters, and our whole family when we couldn’t stand on our own: thank you.