Ranchers sending tons of hay to help cattle in wildfire areas

LOGAN (AP) — Ranchers in central Utah will receive more than 200 tons of donated hay in an effort to help an area devastated by the state's largest wildfire this summer.

"I'm happy for the support," said Cache Cattleman's Association president Joe Fuhriman, who organized the effort and hoped to raise 100 tons. "Everyone has been very generous. It proves there is some good in the world after all."

Nearly 300 cattle and calves were killed, 90 were injured and about 1,300 are missing after the Milford Flat fire, according to a federal survey of ranchers. An estimated 38,000 tons of hay are needed to make up for the 363,000 acres of range that were destroyed.

Fuhriman and USU Extension agent Clark Israelsen collected the hay Wednesday and Thursday. Shipments began Saturday.

The donations from Cache County came despite a statewide drought that has driven up livestock feed prices.

Rancher Wyn Ward said he imagined himself facing those circumstances.

"Our pasture is awful dry, and we felt like if something like that happened here that there would be people who would do the same for us," Ward said.

Ward and his brother, Keith, donated a total of four tons of hay.