Thank You Rural America
Rep. Dusty A. Johnson
House District 63
Rural America. Down home, salt-of-the-earth, neighbor helping neighbor. We are lucky to be a part of such a tight knit community. These communities are the ones that when the football team is in the state playoffs town shuts down and there is a convoy of cars behind the bus going to watch the big game. It’s families helping families. Neighbors looking out for neighbors. When one of our own goes down, we always stop and make sure they are taken care of.
Rural America. A week and a half ago we saw the very best that these small towns have to offer. As devastating fires (that’s right, fires as in multiple) burned in Yuma County, farmers and ranchers teamed up with fire fighters and other first responders. There was no “that’s not my land, it’s not my problem” sentiments. Instead, it was “this is our town and my neighbor’s livelihood.”
The call went out early December 17th. If you have a tractor and a disc please bring it. Nine fires threatening the agricultural landscape of Yuma County. Everyone answered the call. Farmers putting themselves and the equipment in harm’s way for no reason other than to help preserve their neighbor’s way of life. Business owners quickly coming together to donate resources (food, water bottles, etc.) for those fighting the fires for hours on end with little to no rest.
For the last week, I have tried to find the words to express my gratitude, the swelling in my chest and the joy that can be found even in horrible situations like the Yuma County Fires. I still don’t have those words. 14,000 total acres burned in nine fires. It is unimaginable how bad it could have been if communities did not band together within a moment’s notice and without hesitation.
To the fire fighters, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management and dispatch – my sincerest thanks and appreciation. To those in Yuma County and those that came from other towns and counties, to the farmers who risked everything to protect their people, to the volunteers who helped in the evacuation centers, I wish I had more words to express my gratitude. But all I can say is from the bottom of my heart to all of you, THANK YOU.
There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Rural America protects and serves our own. I could not be more proud and am overwhelmed with emotion to serve these amazing communities as their State Representative.
