Practically Ranching
Join Matt Perrier as he visits weekly with interesting, thoughtful, entertaining individuals within the beef community. Conversations will inspire curiosity and creativity while maintaining the independent spirit and practical nature for which ranchers are known.
Practically Ranching
#85 - Kendal Kay, Wildfire Report
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Kendal Kay is CEO of Stockgrowers State Bank, Ashland, KS, where he has worked for 30 years. He is the former mayor of Ashland and played a key role in the donation and recovery efforts of the Starbuck Fire of 2017, one of the state's largest wildfires in recent history.
I caught up with Kendal while he was en route to visit victims of the yesterday's Ranger Road wildfire that burnt roughly 150,000 acres of Oklahoma and Kansas ranchland.
We talk about current status reports of the many fires in the region, plus what we can do to help victims.
Links:
Ashland Community Foundation Ashland Community Foundation
Kansas Livestock Association (785) 273-5115
Hay donation locations:
Ashland Feed & Seed Ashland Feed & Seed - Homepage
Shaw Feedyard - Ryan Koons, Manager - koonsr@outlook.com or 620.805.4682
Thanks for joining me for episode 85 of Practically Ranching. I'm your host, Matt Perrier, and we're here on a little different mission today. Normally I like to have guests in here that kind of challenge us to think strategically and talk about some cutting edge topics or some fun topics, or reminisce about some ranch history or whatever the case may be. We like to go out about every two weeks, every other Wednesday, and this was supposed to be our off week, but given the last 24 hours to 36 hours of happenings in the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma and Southwest Kansas, and just a lot of heart wrenching thoughts that I continue to have and texts and calls from a lot of you all listeners and friends. Counterparts here in the, in the beef industry. Everybody's focused on the wildfires that are happening on the southern plains. So I took the opportunity, I wasn't sure what I was being called to do, but finally decided that this was it. And I got in touch with a gentleman that I've only met once or twice, and it was, thanks in large part to another wildfire, the Starbuck fire in 2017 down in Clark County, Kansas. So I called Kendall Kay, who was mayor at the time of the large metropolis of Ashland, Kansas population, roughly 800. And asked Kendall if he was willing to give us a little bit of an update, boots on the ground, report of what's going on there now, and also talk through kind of a history of the Starbuck fire and what they learned and what we as folks who wanna help. This effort to recover after this one can, can learn as well. Uh, and so Kendall graciously said he would, but he admitted that he's not any closer to Ashland, Kansas than I am right now. He was at a bank conference, I believe, out of state and just flew back into Oklahoma City, texted me back and is on his way to Wichita as we speak. And we recorded this while he was driving up, uh, interstate 35. So the sound quality isn't great. But the conversation is, Kendall, if you don't know of him, is the CEO of Stockgrowers State Bank. He's been there for 30 years or more. His family also owns Ashland Feed and Seed there in southwest Kansas. Uh, like I said, he, he was the mayor of Ashland, Kansas when the Starbuck fire occurred, back in 2017. A super sharp guy. Very involved, very supportive of the community and their foundation and, and everybody around there. And Kendall's a good one to talk to. I think that most of you who are listening to this, thanks to social media or contacts you may have in the area. Know what happened yesterday. Uh, but I need to clarify. We are recording this on Wednesday, February 18th. Right now it's about a quarter after four Central time and basically just a synopsis for those of you who may not have seen it. Um, a few fires started. Um. In several different areas of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. The one that got the largest is called the Ranger Road Fire. It started outside of Beaver, Oklahoma, I believe, yesterday morning, Tuesday morning, and it moved to the Northeast, up through Knowles, Oklahoma, Englewood, Kansas, and on up through Ashland. And then east of Protection, Kansas. Everyone always wants to know what started the fire and quite often. We may not know exactly, but it's probably something that happens on a daily, if not weekly basis. But yesterday and today, the conditions were so right that anything could have started a fire that normally would've never sparked or never,, um, taken off. Super low humidity, super high winds, gusts up to 75 or 80 mile an hour fuel this, and it, uh, it moved in a hurry and it took a lot of acres of high grass load, high fuel load thanks to a wet summer, in its path. We don't know exact details I guess, yet, but somewhere in that fire alone, the Ranger Road fire, around 150,000 acres that burnt, um. I've gotten a few, uh, estimates of cattle loss. I, I don't think, and, and Kendall says this on here, I don't think that it's as bad as it was in the Starbuck fire, but we're still talking about hundreds, if not. Over a thousand cattle that were lost, that we know of today and in several different areas. there in southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Um, and that's one fire. There are others. There are two, I think currently burning in Seward County, uh, Stevens and Side Road, I think is what they're calling them. Or the Seward number one, Seward number two. And, those are still actively burning. With winds talking about changing from the south today and out of the northwest tomorrow, and so they're not out of the woods yet as a, as a friend of mine, just told me and that's still not including some that are still blazing in, in the Texas Panhandle as well. In this podcast, talk about what they need now, and I'm, I'm not gonna steal anything from that, but prayers are the first thing. Um, everybody wants to do something. Immediately. Everybody wants to contact someone immediately. And the fact of the matter is, and we talk about this here in just a few minutes, but I. Most of those people are still assessing the damage. Let's give them some time. I'm as guilty as anybody of wanting to know and wanting to help right now, but let's give them some time and let's use these channels like this, like social media. Hopefully from trustworthy sources and then let's figure out how we can help. And it appears that after what we learned there from fires in 20 16, 20 17 and and before and after that even that quite possibly that the two things that they're gonna need most from a material standpoint is hay and money. Yes, fencing, supplies will be needed, but it might be better, as we say in the podcast to. Send hay or money and, um, the rest of it can, can be purchased with that. in addition to the, the, uh, conversation that I have with Kendall, I'm also going to, and we reference this in, in the, in the podcast, I'm gonna include in the links. And a lot of times I don't ever go to links in, in the podcast, but this time you may want to, I'm gonna include in the notes area, several links to different folks that. That will accept donations. Ashland Community Foundation for one. The Kansas Livestock Association, I believe is set up if folks wanna go through that route. They can. As far as hay donations, Ashland Feed and Seed, and then Shaw Feed Yard, are both accepting. One thing that I may say that I was told by someone who learned a lot from that 2017 fire. If you know of folks who have a need for hay. At their place, please reach out to them when the time is right and send that hay directly to them so it doesn't have to be handled twice or three extra times, unloading, reloading, unloading again. It's great to put those into those yards and let people come get them, but it might be even more helpful if we can get'em directly to the folks who need that. So, um, past that, uh, reach out to any of these from a social media standpoint to the Kansas Forest Service Facebook page actually has a pretty good, accurate update once a day or so with some of this fire progress. That may be one of the good places to go if you just want to know what's being burnt and what is the status, past that. Again, they need our prayers folks and, um, I'm, I'm on here and I'm doing this simply so that we can do that and maybe stay out of their hair down there in, in the panhandles and in, in southwest Kansas until, until they're ready for our help. So I hope it is helpful. I appreciate you tuning in. May God bless you and may God bless those who've lost so much through these wildfires.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Well, Kendall, I appreciate you jumping on here and,, we're just gonna jump right into it. I've already given a little bit of an intro here by the time we, uh, post this. But I, I, I wanted to get somebody that was close enough. uh, location and understanding and knowledge to the fires through the pandhandles and southwest Kansas this week to kind of give us a, a little bit of feel for what's going on and someone with the knowledge of what happened with both the Anderson Creek and the Starbucks fires of 2016 and 17. Um. To kind of share what, what you learned from that and, and how you'll go forth about rebuilding and, and regrouping from this one. Um, but, you know, tell us what you know, and you can even share the fact that maybe you haven't been there on the ground the last few days'cause of
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Okay,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:commitments. But, uh, tell us what you know at this point.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:so Matt, yeah, I appreciate the opportunity and, uh. You know, I just want to first say thank you. I mean, I don't know how many calls, texts I've received, uh, and all of us and those that are ranchers that are out there, I mean, working so hard and putting themselves in harm's way, uh, to protect their livestock. I, I just deeply, genuinely say thank you from everyone for your prayers of support. Um, we'll get through this. I mean, it's, it's. Not a good situation, but it's not near as bad as it was last time, and that's the blessing in it. Uh, kind of really just to me, barely 24 hours in. So today, just trying to get arms around them really what the damage really is. Uh, and I think that's what the ranchers need right now is the time. I know a significant amount of acres were born. I've heard upwards around 150,000. I hate to even throw a number out there because that's a, it's gonna be a fluid situation there. But, um, um, cattle loss, uh, enough, again, not as bad as last time, but still significant. And, uh, that's what they're assessing today. That's gonna be. You are gonna know more by the end of the day than what we, what we knew early this morning. And it's just, um, it's heartbreaking for these guys to work through. I mean, it just is. And so at this point, I think continue to break force, uh, brings back a lot of memories that you would just like to keep in the background, Matt. But, uh, it is this deal called life too, and it's gonna throw us some. Curve balls every now and then, and ones we don't like, but we just have to at right now, it's each day at a time, and before long then it'll be next week and we'll just keep going forward.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep. Yeah. Well, I, I presume that anyone who's listening to this knows the Starbucks fire in 2017. I guess before we get into how can we help right now this, uh, ranger Road fire that that's still ongoing, honestly,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:some of the sounds like there's some hotspot that they're trying to get put out, but what happened in 2017? What did, what were some of the big lessons that you all learned then and, and, um, uh, how is that helping you, I guess, deal with, or how's it making it even tougher to deal with, uh, some of the PTSD that you're seeing today?
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah, and even backing up to 2016 when they had the Anderson Creek fire and some of the lessons learned there and, and, uh, you know that again. March, 2017. The conditions were awful. Started down in Oklahoma just like the one yesterday and wind sustained winds and, and it, the fire just moved so fast and so dangerous. But then there happened to be another fire then and the northern part of the county. And when this wind shifted around the north, it did not let up and it just brought all that fire then down upon us and burnt, literally. Nearly everything in our area. Uh, over 500,000 acres. Hundreds of cattle lost, uh, thousands of cattle lost, I should say. But at that point in time, we engaged and worked with KLA, we also engaged in, and the local ASH community Foundations had the foundation.'cause really genuinely when you get down to, uh, these guys, I mean, they lost an enormous amount of grass yesterday and today they need hay and they're gonna need money to, uh, to rebuild. And yeah, there's the government programs out there and we're gonna need fence. Fence. And supplies are great too, but you have to build those fences back according to the specs that the government established. And it doesn't cover it all. So that's where the money and the resources and the community foundation there in national is, is just such a wonderful organization to be able to have that and that that's one of the things that we learn. You have to have the vehicle.'cause people, especially people in rural America, I mean they, they just wanna help. I mean, how can we help? And this. You wanna reach out and contact the people that you know, but at the end of the day, they're trying to get their arms around the situation back home. And so how can you genuinely help? The things that we learned is you just have to have those vehicles set up so people can't help the way, and that, whether that's sending hay or whether that's financially, uh, all is needed and all is very appreciated. It's hard for ranchers to accept help. I will say that though. Uh, but sometimes you just have to.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah, I remember hearing you say that, you know, in the wake of the Uck fire, um, difficult that was to get folks to take that help, whether it was money or labor or supplies or whatever the case may be. But um, yeah, I mean, it's there as deserving as, as. Anybody, but yet we as a culture just don't. want to give it, but we don't want to
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:It's much, much easier to give than to receive. And it's much more, I mean, I'm, I'm grateful that the people, uh, have really just all that they have done to support us. But you, it's, you have these challenges in life and it's gonna happen, but none of us, I wouldn't wish it upon anybody. But at some point, if we all live long enough, we're gonna have some kind of circumstance. You're gonna need some help. And unfortunately, I mean, we find ourself right back in that position just nine years later and it's like, that doesn't be you all, I mean, it just, I was talking to close friend, a rancher yesterday, and he said, you know, I just wanted to pull over and cry. And that doesn't sound like it should come from somebody like that, but. I unfortunately, and was out of town yesterday. I mean, I couldn't help that fact and there was no way. I mean, in fact, right now I'm driving from Oklahoma City to Wichita. I'll talk about that in a minute, but I said it's okay. I mean, because there was a lot of PTSD that just come back as soon as, you know, you have a fire going yesterday. Um, and it, it. The impacted person. I said, I cried from a hotel room. Right. A ways away. I mean, just feeling for what those people go through and it put theirselves in harm's way. Uh, and to that point, I know a couple volunteer firemen. I mean, I think there others, but two that I know of, um, got transferred to Wichita up here and. One of which is a spouse of one of my employees there at the bank. And so just go check on them and see how they're doing.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Uh, I understand they're making progress, but as we, if we're safe, and if we're alive, we can get to the next day. Uh, and you just pray for those guys.'cause they've just put their, I mean, they're no fault of anybody's, but. That was a very, it is last night. Terrible conditions yesterday, but just a very dangerous fire.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah, any, any one, any fire is, but.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:When we hear of sustained winds of 40 and 50 miles an hour and gusts of 70 or 80, um, and below 10% humidity, I think I saw somewhere seven or 8% humidity. I mean, I, I, I've never seen those conditions quite that dry here. But even when we get down in the teens in terms of humidity, um. You know, I, I saw several places on Facebook yesterday. People were saying, well, if they would just do this, if they just disk around the lines, it would go out. I've seen it burn across dirt, especially when you've got the level of, of energy and fuel load and everything else from a good grass year last summer, uh, that, that fire has to work with. Um. Yeah, you, you, you don't put that head fire out. Um, you, you don't, you just try to manage the damage on the flanks and, and
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:And.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:dangerous.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:And to that point, and I mean, what couldn't we learn differently from last time too? And, and last time was no fault of any, I mean, the conditions were just terrible then They're terrible. Yesterday, uh, you knew the risk was there, but when the fire started, I think don't wait. I mean, if there's a fire ways away and, and, and that's the message I was hearing from people yet. Go on ahead and we're blessed. We've had decent wheat pasture this winter, so. While we have an enormous amount of grass in Clark County and in that area, Comanche Southern Comanche County, and even over in Mead County, time is of the essence and those guys are out there trying to get their livestock outta harm's way and, and you know, it's, sorry. It is just hard to see that man. Hard to know. But it, it's a way of life and, and fortunately, fortunately, I mean, we had, they could get, I mean, I know they save hundreds of head by the time that they had yesterday, I guess is what I'm saying. They did not save them all by any means. But if you have any time, don't wait. I mean, just don't assume that. Well, it's never gonna get here.'cause to your point, that head fire is moving so fast. I mean, there's, it just feel, I mean, I, they were, I know guy out on road graders doing what they can do, but it's about impossible to stop. Fortunately, the wind died down last night. But they, I know, I mean, close friend was out in it until, I mean, I think they were all out all night, but he said, we finally came in at four 30 this morning.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:And that was the tough part yesterday. I think even those of us who weren't there in the flesh to see what happened in 2017, at least during it
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:a lot of folks went down in the wake and helped out with various different tasks and things, but. Because it was still fresh on our minds and we wanted to help quicker and even more than we did last time. Everybody wanted to know and there was nothing coming out of there. And I'm like, guys, the reason that we are not getting any texts back is because those guys are either in a pickup leading cows, any UTV or horseback moving cows, or they're on a fire truck. There
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:You know, all hands on deck are doing that right now and will be for the next. You know, 12 to 24 hours. And, and so, and now those guys are out there probably having to euthanize some cattle that aren't
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:it, probably treating some that are slightly burned, but hopefully can make it. And, and doing all the things they're, they're doing what every rancher would do. They're taking care of their loved ones, they're taking care of their livestock, and they're eventually gonna take care of the land. And we've gotta give them time to do that. Um, in the meanwhile. If somebody wants to do something immediate, you say that besides sending money, would you say that hay is the thing they're gonna need the
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yes.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Okay.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:I, yes, I, without a doubt, I mean, Hay. money, I mean, that's gonna be the soonest.'cause right now, I mean,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:there's, there's no grass out there. Nothing. I mean, cattle that had something to eat yesterday have nothing today. And that's where these ranch, I mean what's, what's plan B now all of a sudden? So, uh, absolutely. And I know that Ashland Feed Seed,. They accepted hay donations last time and, and we'll, we are doing that again, and I know they'll send hay directly out to where it's needed most, but uh, right out to the pastures, I mean, but they can coordinate that, coordinate that there at Ashland Feed Seed as well.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Good. Good. As you were talking about moving cattle and what you all and what the ranchers there in Clark County and surrounding areas learned in 2016 and 2017 from the Anderson Creek and Starbuck Fires When I came home and, and I got the opportunity to go out and help for a few days, uh, a week or so after Starbuck fire there in 2017. And when I came home, the first thing that I did on, on the urging of several folks that I either stayed with or helped, Was sit down and write what we call the Dalebanks Angus Wildfire evacuation plan,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:and I never in my wildest dreams would've even thought about putting into writing. In a page that I could hand somebody or two before we're supposed to have conditions like what you all had yesterday and what we are supposed to have in Flint Hills tomorrow. I printed it out again
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:dusted it off and made sure that there wasn't anything that needed to be changed. But it goes through step by step, um, you know, contact authorities, priorities, people first. Livestock facilities, houses, things like that. Who to call, turning off breakers at the meter pole, you know, all these different things that, you know, folks learned from that down there. And so in addition to how can we help the folks there in southwest Kansas and the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas, I think one thing that. I got, and I gathered from the fires in 16 and 17 was area leaders and ranchers' desire that they help us learn how to limit damage just like they did yesterday they
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Absolutely. Yeah,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:practice. Yeah. What they had learned.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:absolutely. I mean, a hundred percent agree. And, and I always say it's, it's uh, better to work, learn from the mistakes than others.'cause we can't make'em all ourselves. But, uh. Um, first, first off, uh, I just say thank you for, I mean, so many people came in 2017 and, and helped us and you were part of that, and I just say thank you, but you're exactly right. I mean, and that's a plan that you hope that you never have to implement. But, but I would also encourage you to review that every spring. I mean, review that, I mean. In the winter, I mean, be at the time that you need to review it for your situation. When the risk is the highest, pull that out and look at it so that you kind of have it fresh on your mind of what your plan is and to your point, adjusted if need be. Uh, none of us like to think that, I mean, that's not what we want to do, but it is part of the business and to put yourself in the best position. To succeed. And I'm not saying anybody did anything wrong yesterday and there are still losses. I think they did as good a job as they possibly could, so, but it's just, uh, it's just a difficult situation to be in.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Oh yeah. Yep. No doubt about it. Let, let's touch just a, a bit. You mentioned it's easier to give than receive when you're
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:folks of the land, and, and I think that's, I think that's accurate. Folks would rather drive a thousand miles, be there in person, and, and, and there is a need for that. I, I saw a human connection and a need for that, and we can touch on that later, but
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:quite often. By sending that fencing supplies that may build an eighth of a mile fence and you've got 200 to build, they may get in the way of some disaster money that could come from government programs or whatever else. That's a time where. the cash through a foundation, through someplace that's gonna get it all to the ranchers and not skim a bunch off the top, but the cash is gonna be way more beneficial to those folks here after the dust settles and the smoke clears than necessarily boots on the ground trying to build fence or the case may be.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:It is, and it is so hard to be on the receiving end. I mean, especially those in American agriculture. I mean, it's just, it's just hard. It's not in their DNA, but at the end of the day, sometimes you find yourself that you just need to be on that end. And we are so grateful. But I think the hardest thing, I mean, it's hard for me to talk about, but I think the hardest thing for people to give is money. But I think that's what does the most good as well. And you mentioned the community foundation. The thing I, they do not hold any penny back for administrative fees or anything if there's a hundred dollars given. I, I mean, nothing against GoFundMe. I think they do great things as well, but they hold back a large percentage, large enough percentage I should say, of the amount you donate. The community foundation, if you donate a hundred dollars,$100 is gonna go to those, uh, farmers and ranchers in need and it's gonna be split according to the loss. And they have an application that they can, Determine the amount of loss and, and prorate it out according to those that truly indeed need it. And you know, right now we're in a, we find ourself in a position that we don't want the help, but we're gonna need the help.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:and and in time we'll turn around and. Pay it forward. I mean, we, we have done that since 2017 in a big way. I know our ranchers have done that, and in time we will. Uh, the good thing is, I know this isn't as bad as 2017 by any state, but it's still bad enough.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep. And, and I haven't, uh, I haven't checked here in the last hour or two and, and, uh, I should have, I think I may have clarified, we, it is 40 central time on Wednesday the 18th when we're recording this. That's the beauty of these podcasts is people listen to'em forever. And
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:uh, but, but it is a developing situation without a doubt. And, and I know. last I checked there at noon. Um, there were still some hot spots on both flanks, but the North Flank would be more worrisome, uh, of, of yesterday's and last night's fire because with the South wind gusts coming up
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:I know, you know, places to the north were, were pretty anxious about, um, what that could spell. So yeah, we're not outta the woods yet, but hopefully, hopefully they got a little bit of a handle on it last night.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Agreed. Yeah, it's, a fluid situation. Even with what you said with the ranchers too, they're still trying. They're out there trying, and you're right. The information, you just wanna know what's going on, but they're out there working their butts off to try to just protect their way of life. And, and there's just not enough hours in the day right now. And that's the hard part. And, and I will say this too, I mean, and you try to get information out there, and I think social media is great, but sometimes it is not totally accurate information either. So it, it's, uh. You gotta determine what is factual and I think I appreciate you trying to reach out and doing what you're doing here to boots on the ground. Like I said, unfortunately I was gone yesterday, but I had the people, the contacts, I mean, 2017 Fire. I happened to be a mayor at the time as well. Um, been at the bank for 30 years. Um. It's, that's home. I mean, Ashland is home and these are the people we know and we love, and there's just many good people there. And, and it's hard to see and it's a very helpless feeling when you're, uh, airplane ride away and can't get home.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah. Yeah, I can only imagine. And, and, um, you know, when you've got. That much invested in your hometown, in your
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:in your businesses, in your community, um, that's, is a, a tough feeling. But, but you're getting back and I think you mentioned, um. Recognize that you can probably do some good, even still outside of Clark County for a few more hours and are headed to Wichita to see some folks that are there in a burn unit or at the hospital recovering from some injuries yesterday in the fire. Right.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:I think they're doing all they can at home, and I know that they are, and I just thought it, my wife and I felt like it was necessary to go check on the people that are in the burn unit at Wichita just to see how they're doing. Um,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Good.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:of our employee's, husband was a volunteer fireman, one of the ranchers that Mark Gardner's employees volunteer firemen that's there, and they're right across the hall from each other just to go check on them.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:That's where, in my opinion, that's where God probably wants you to be for right now. And, and, uh, yeah, there's, there's a plan. It's just trying to figure out and listen and do what it is He wants. Um.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:And I'm grateful for technology to keep up with the way that we can anymore.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Um,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:and you know, at the end of the day, I mean, I, I. Sometimes all we can do is just pray. It's all in God's control. You mentioned that and um, I know we'll get through this. We will, we have before and we'll get through this one as well, but we just so grateful for everyone's support.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep. Well, it's, I, I hope that it will keep coming. I'm, I'm quite certain that it will, like I said, there is a huge, Swell of, of interest in, in doing whatever we can. But that's, as you said, that's one reason why I'm wanting to do this today and, and get it out
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:so people can realize that it's going to be needed. But, um, it may, it may take a few hours or days, um,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:to know exactly what and how much, and how, you know,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:I'm gonna circle back one thing that we had said before, and I'll sound a bit like a hypocrite. I just got done saying maybe they need our money and our hay more than they need our bodies there to build that fence or to do whatever. I will say this, I didn't feel like I did anything that somebody else locally couldn't have done when I went out there to try and help move cattle around. And by that time, the, the fire was out and, and I was four or five days after that. And, I went to several ranches. I was there, but there was nothing that I and a couple horses did that somebody else locally couldn't have. However, I had multiple times that somebody that I didn't even know may have been next to me horseback, or I was giving them a ride back to their pickup and trailer or whatever the case may be, Told me things and broke down and showed emotion that there's not any chance in the world they would've showed to their
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep. Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:or to their family or to anybody else. And again, from my perspective, that God saying that's that's why you're here. You're not here to doctor, these calves, you're not here to move these cows. They could have gotten that done by this point in time. You're here to be an ear that these folks will probably never see again and can let their guard down and have a health moment or whatever we wanna call it. And, and so there is that too. And, and I think we have to recognize that, um, that our. We don't wanna smother folks that, that don't wanna be smothered, especially when it's not yet time. But at some point there's more than just giving financially or whatever the case may be. Uh, but it's maybe just a shoulder cry on or lean on or whatever as as they rebuild.'cause the second time may not. You may have learned a lot. I'm not sure the second time will be any easier though.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:I guarantee you it's not. I mean, it's just like that conversation last evening that I had and the gentleman said, I just. I wanna pull over and cry and I said, it's okay, do it. I said, I have. And it just like I got choked up earlier. I mean, it just hits you at lot fine. And no, you're not fine. I mean, but Matt, you're exactly right when there's still a lot of scars deep down and you wanna just park that. Back, but it just brings back a flood of emotions real quick. I mean, what you went through, and it probably is sometimes easier to talk to somebody like yourself that isn't there, that they have to, oh, I gotta be strong in front of them. But you know what I mean? We all can be just human and it's okay. I mean, to say, Hey, I'm not having a very good day. But I, I think if you, to your point. I, it's, it was invaluable to just have people just like yourself come and just be there as a fresh person. I mean, somebody, that fresh set of legs, a fresh mind, I mean, just to listen to, I mean, you didn't have all the connection and all the, everything that went through in those four or five days there that week of. March 6th, 2017. So when you came in, you, you were, how can I help? How can I help? And that was so invaluable to so many. Um, and, and just multiply what you described times so many people that came and volunteered. And I will say, I mean, in some cases, I mean, depends on how the fence was built back. Built back steel instead of wood post. I mean there, there were some lessons learned there, and that's not in all cases but in some cases. So there is probably, I have not seen it, but there's probably not as much fence to rebuild this, what we had last time as well. But still, you can just be a friend and, and that's the, that's the great thing about serving and just. Well, I, I don't know. I can't say thank you enough to everyone.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Well, I think from our perspective, we can't help enough and, and
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:um, it sounds to me like as we talk through this. Instead of a, a text or a call today with a question mark at the end. Maybe they need to be, if we've got somebody in that region, panhandle, Texas, Oklahoma, southwest Kansas, there may be other areas that I didn't even know about yesterday. But those are the ones that are closest
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right,
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:me and our friends and counterparts and customers. But there's somebody there that, you know, instead of saying. How's it looking? Maybe we need to say, call me anytime when you need to.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Tell me if you want me to come down there. Things like that may go further than when can I come and start tearing out fence, know, I, uh, and we, you know, we're sending a load of hay down to to some folks that, um, I know are gonna need it pronto, and I know how.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Tough it's gonna be to get trucks here in the next little bit. And
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:to jump out their head and I would encourage others to do the same. And as you said, if you are wanting to send something probably right now, hay is the thing to send. And, um, I'll put links in this for, uh, a contact there at Ashland Feed and Seed. Uh, I'm also told that Shaw Feed yard, uh, is a delivery drop off point for hay.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:as well to get out to folks. And I'm sure that if you know individual places that need it and wanna send it directly there, that saves having to unload and reload too. So,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:That's a hundred percent acceptable too. I mean. Yeah.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:yeah. Yeah. Past that. It may be more of an offer of a, a shoulder and, and just a friend when they're ready
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Right.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:specifics right now.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yeah. And, and what a, I mean, you're, we talked about it earlier, but right now they're just, they're trying to assess their situation and so we kind of gotta give them some space to just manage their operation.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Mm-hmm.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:And that's even hard from a banker's perspective and been in contact with my lenders and, and, and I've, I don't, I've made it clear last time I made it clear this time, I don't care about the financial aspects of any loss right now, I just care about how they are as a human being and that's it.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Well that says a lot Kendall. And I think that any of us. That are friends, that are counterparts, um, that have witnessed this either nine years ago or maybe ourselves at different time or whatever the case may be, can relate. And, um, it says a lot about you. It says a lot about the people that we get to do business with and, and I think that that's, um, as informative and instructive as about anything we could offer is just. Care about the humans, care about those people that are trying to take care of their people and their livestock and, and everything else will come together in time.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:I just wanna say thank you to everyone. I thank the good Lord. Above that, we haven't lost any lives. I mean. We've had some close calls, but, um, we will get through this. Um, and I just appreciate everyone's support and on behalf of all of those, uh, in our area, just say thank you. Uh, it means so much.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Well, thank you, Kendall. Thanks for. Doing all that you did in 2017 and, and continue to do this time around and, uh, being on here with us. And, uh, again, I will, in the, in the notes on this podcast, I'll share some links,
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Okay.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:can, if folks do want to give to Ashland Community Foundation, I
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Yep.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Kansas Livestock Association has some, um, channels as well. There's lots of different places, um, uh, that folks can help out when that time is has come and, and, um, yeah. But for now, I'd say it sounds like prayers are about as useful as anything right now until folks can assess the, the damages.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:God bless you all
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:Thank you a bunch, Kendall.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Matt. Thank you.
matt_1_02-18-2026_141804:and uh, give us, give everybody our best there in Wichita. And once you get back to Ashland as well.
squadcaster-16fg_1_02-18-2026_141804:Will do so
