Even small gifts change lives

Pay It Forward
Aug 09, 2017

Bell Bank Helps Support Farm Rescue

Bell Bank’s ag symposium with author and national speaker David Kohl raised money for Farm Rescue.

“Years ago, when farmers and ranchers needed help, their friends and neighbors left what they were doing and showed up to help. That still happens occasionally, but our busy lives seem to get in the way of it happening as often as it used to. Farm Rescue fills that important need in the farming community.” – Lynn Paulson, Bell Bank director of agribusiness development

Recipient

Farm Rescue

The Need

Farm Rescue provides free planting, harvesting and haying assistance to family farmers who have suffered a major injury, illness or natural disaster. The nonprofit organization launched in 2005 and has helped approximately 400 farm families in crisis in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and eastern Montana.

The Impact

Everyone who donated a minimum of $50 to Farm Rescue at Bell’s ag symposium received a limited edition print of the pictured illustration, used in our marketing materials, by local artist and Bell’s senior graphic designer Lourdes Hawley. The bank then matched all of the donations.

Lynn Paulson organized the fundraiser and has previously donated personal and Pay It Forward funds to Farm Rescue, because he believes so strongly in the organization.

“Farm Rescue’s mission aligns with Bell’s values in so many ways,” he says. “Bell’s Pay It Forward program (which gives employees money to donate to families and organizations in need) and Farm Rescue seek to make a difference for people who are often at a crossroads in their lives.”

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