Wildfire Crisis: Agricultural Community Rallies for Orphan Calf Relief: The Rangers Road fire has already scorched over 283,000 acres, creating an immediate crisis for ranchers along the Oklahoma-Kansas border. In a recent informative discussion, Farm Director KC Sheperd sat down with Jessica Reed, Program Director for the Orphan Calf Relief Program, to detail the recovery efforts currently underway.
The fires escalated rapidly this past Tuesday, moving toward the Kansas line so quickly that many producers were unable to move their livestock to safety in time. Reed, a resident of Beaver County based south of Forgan, Oklahoma, explained that the focus has now shifted to sustaining surviving animals that have lost all access to grazing land.
Immediate Challenges and Resource Coordination
During the interview with Sheperd, Reed highlighted the critical logistics required to keep displaced livestock alive:
- Loss of Forage: Because winter wheat and grass pastures were incinerated, hay is the most urgent physical need for surviving cattle.
- Logistics Support: Reed is currently coordinating between donors who have hay and groups like the “Rancher Navy” to handle transportation for those who lack the means to move it.
- Orphan Calf Care: The program specializes in the care and healing of calves displaced by these disasters, a mission Reed has led since 2024 following her previous experience with the 2017 Starbucks fire.
Urgent Resource Needs
When asked by Sheperd what the agricultural community needs most in this moment, Reed was clear that immediate survival for the livestock is the priority.
- Hay and Monetary Donations: Reed emphasized that hay and monetary donations are the two most critical needs right now.
- Nutritional Necessity: Because the fire incinerated winter grass and wheat pastures, surviving cattle have nothing left to eat and require immediate supplemental forage.
- Funding for Supplies: Monetary donations are essential to help the program procure necessary supplies for the displaced and orphaned calves in their care.
Logistics and Coordination
Reed is currently acting as a central hub for logistics, coordinating between donors who have hay and groups like the Rancher Navy to handle transportation for those who lack the means to move it. This ensures that the influx of support is directed exactly where it is needed most without overwhelming local infrastructure.
Verified Support Channels
Even though the agricultural community is quick to lean in and help, it is vital to ensure donations reach legitimate operations. Reed recommended several verified paths for support:
- Beaver Feed Store: A dedicated account has been set up in Beaver, Oklahoma, to accept monetary donations for supplies.
- Direct Outreach: The Orphan Calf Relief Program Facebook page provides a transparent history of their work and direct contact for those wishing to help.
- Industry Partners: Coordination continues with the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and the “Ashes to Ashes” program.
- Ag Community Relief: Assembles volunteers to mitigate the suffering in agriculture communities after a disaster or devastation
- Beaver County Stockyards: Non Hay Donations are being dropped off here
- Rancher Navy Texas Fire Relief: A 501C3 classified charity organization helping Texas Farm and Ranchers get organized to assist one another in a time of Wildfire
Preparedness for High-Wind Forecasts
With more wind in the forecast, the discussion turned toward emergency preparedness for rural families. Reed advised maintaining a “go-bag” with three days of clothing and essential documents. She further suggested keeping non-replaceable items, such as family heirlooms, packed in totes during fire season, as the speed of these fires leaves no room for deliberation once an evacuation order is issued.
Reed said producers are welcome to give her a call to ask how they can help, or ask for assistance of their own. You can reach Jessica at 620-629-0439, and also visit the Orphan Calf Relief Amazon Wishlist.
Another way you can help is by ordering a Tshirt from Sandhandle Creations. Profits from the shirts will go to help with supplies for the calves in our program & to our local hero’s departments for their needs (ex: ruined tires from driving in fires) Shirts are $25.
CURRENT NEEDS (SUPPLIES & DONATIONS):
• Bottles and nipples for calves
• Milk replacer / calf formula
• Livestock feed and hay
• Electrolytes and wound care supplies
• Panels, fencing supplies, and basic ranch necessities
• Monetary donations to help move supplies quickly where they’re needed most
Livestock Emergency Triage Kits are Also needed:
These boxes are built specifically for immediate livestock triage, including:
• Burn treatment
• Wound stabilization
• Bandaging supplies
• Loose livestock containment
• Orphaned calf support (which is critical)
If you can help, here is how:
AMAZON LIST
Efforts are underway to coordinate the collection and transport of supplies into the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma.
Responders and local ranchers are actively working in the impacted zones. Please continue to give emergency and agricultural response vehicles room to operate.
