Farmers step forward to reap corn at Weis farms
By Jennifer Eisenbart
and Patricia Bogumil
Staff Writers
This week, area farmers planned to come together and help out with the harvest of crops from Weis Brothers farms.
The Weis brothers finished harvesting their soy beans before an accident on Sept. 28 took the life of Clayton Weis. Russell Weis, injured in the accident, remained at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Tuesday. The two were working on a farm implement when the accident occurred.
However, with a tight-knit group of farmers in the area, a plan is in place to head over to the farm, bringing in their heavy equipment to take in the corn harvest.
“It’s one day and their crops will be harvested, and then we can all go back to ours,” said Ken Uhlenhake, who farms just down the road from the Weis properties and who is spearheading today’s harvesting.
“We all feel fortunate in being able to provide our help,” he said.
Nine area farmers planned to be at the Weis’ cornfields Thursday, harvesting the Weis’ corn crop with nine combines, trucks and truck carts.
“We’ll all be working together,” said Jeff Ehrhart, who farms in the Town of Dover.
Thursday’s harvesting is the kind of neighbor-to-neighbor effort that farmers typically make when periodic tragedies or difficulties occur, said Kevin Malchine of Malchine Farms near Waterford.
It’s also the kind of grassroots spirit that has made this country strong through the years, Malchine said.
Kay Weis, who is a sister-in-law to both Clayton and Russell, said the outpouring of support, both from the farming community and others, has been outstanding.
“I think it’s phenomenal,” said Weis. “Awesome. Just the number of people who have come out and shown support for the family.
“There’s really nothing you can’t ask them to do.”
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Just drove by, what an awesome sight. Brings tears to my eyes.
I know the Weis family would do the same for any of us.
Such an amazing story and some truly amazing farmers! It’s amazing what farmers can and will do for fellow farmers! Luckily, I got to drive through the fields today as this was happening and take pictures, and let me tell you, it was a sight to see! It was absolutely amazing!
Farmers have being doing this for years in a very quiet and humble way. Having growing up on a farm in Kansas it was customary, if a farmer was ill or injured for the neighboring farmers to plant or harvest “his” neighbors crops or tend to the farm animals. The Commandment “love your neighbor as yourself” comes alive in action.