It's what neighbors do

Thursday, November 14, 2002

DANBURY -- Cyrus Haag has old pictures showing the neighbors and a whole string of Fordson tractors picking Rudolph Schultz' corn when Rudolph was sick many, many years ago, in the 1920s.

"Farmers have always done this. It's just what they do," Cyrus said, standing near a field of corn the neighbors picked Wednesday morning for Cyrus's son, Bill.

Bill is recovering at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, following a pickup accident in which he suffered a concussion, broken ribs and a punctured lung. He was finishing up chores and checking on cows when the roads turned slick and icy.

"When someone needs help, the neighbors always come runnin'," said Brendon Moore, Cyrus' son-in-law, Bill's brother-in-law.

It took about 2 1/2 hours Wednesday morning to pick 100 acres of corn north of Danbury. About 45 people showed up to help, with nine combines and the accompanying tractors, grain carts, trucks, pickups and operators.

The neighbors will pick about 1,000 acres of milo as soon as it dries a bit more, Brendon said. And they'll gather Bill's spring calves this weekend and haul them to the West Sale Barn in McCook for the sale Monday.

This is just what farmers do, Cyrus said, help out when someone needs help.

Cyrus said Bill is improving every day, and last night made a telephone call by himself. "Calling on his own ... that's really good," Cyrus said. "A week ago, he wasn't even talking."

The family hopes Bill will make it home for Thanksgiving, which will make that holiday -- meant for counting your blessings -- just that much more meaningful.

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