A heartwarming story unfolded in North Dakota when around 60 neighbors, friends, and family of a local farmer rallied together to harvest his wheat and canola crops after he suffered a heart attack. Lane Unhjem was amidst the harvest on his farm near Crosby, North Dakota when his combine caught fire. The stress of the event led Unhjem to go into cardiac arrest, and he was quickly rushed to the hospital. But his farm was not left unattended as the community came together to finish the job.

The bond between these farmers in Divide County was truly remarkable. They put their own harvesting on hold and generously offered their equipment to assist the Unhjem family. “I talked to a couple of farmers, got their equipment, and then other people just started calling, and we had equipment offered from all over the place in the county, and their workers to go with it,” shared Jenna Binde, a close family friend.

With the power of community, the group utilized 11 combines, six grain carts, and 15 tractor-trailers to finish harvesting Unhjem’s Durum wheat and canola. In an impressive display of teamwork, they managed to harvest 1,000 acres in just seven hours. The collective effort of these selfless individuals ensured that the Unhjem family could salvage their crops and avoid a significant loss.

The assistance provided by the community was not just an act of kindness; it was common sense. Those who lent a helping hand knew that letting the Unhjem’s crops go unharvested would have been devastating for the family. It was a beautiful testament to the power of neighbors, friends, and family coming together during difficult times.