Rooted in Remembrance: Capital Farm Credit offers support during times of crisis

It’s a time of solemn reflection for survivors and victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Katrina and Rita, as the anniversaries of each of those devastating hurricanes are being remembered this week.  

Friday marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devasted Louisiana and Mississippi gulf coasts, quickly followed by Hurricane Rita. At the same time, Aug. 25 marked the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, which left a wide path of destruction across the Texas coastline and even areas inland. 

Through it all, Capital Farm Credit employees and its members have learned a thing or two about natural disasters. Whether it’s hailstorms, tornadoes, devastating floods, wildfires or hurricanes, CFC promptly takes action to help those in need. 

As the peak of year another hurricane season is upon us, a few employees took time to reflect on how helping people is the Farm Credit way.

“When it happens, we are there,” said South Texas Regional President Tim Knesek. “It’s a very fulfilling part of the journey to help people at all times – not just when times are good, but when times are bad, too.”

Shortly after Hurricane Harvey carved a path of destruction and dumped nearly 60 inches of rain in Southeast Texas, CFC teamed up with a farm credit association from Mississippi to help.

It was Labor Day in 2017. Knesek and about a dozen other Capital Farm Credit employees met up with their Mississippi counterparts in Silsbee, where they cooked and served 10,000 pounds of chicken to citizens and workers in the area.  

“After all that rain, it was so humid and hot,” Knesek recalled. “We started serving chicken probably about 11:30 a.m. and the cars never stopped until it got dark, which was like 8:30 or 9 p.m. We had three pits going at all times. I’ll never forget when I left how exhausted I was.”

AgriRoots Outreach Officer Pat Shields said the work was hard and eye-opening. “As a native of the Texas Panhandle, hurricanes were literally never on my radar. To see how the effects of hurricanes and tropical storms linger after the winds and rains subside is extremely humbling,” he said. “Driving through the storm debris to get to the multi-association gathering was depressing and gut wrenching.

“To know that we were soon going to feed those who were suffering through the mosquito-infested power outage area brightened our spirits,” he added. “To see the smiles and gratitude of those coming through the reticulated snakelike line of cars to receive the allotment of freshly prepared sustenance made the long day of travel and hot hours of cooking seem worth it all.”

A local nursing home called Silsbee Oaks Health Care allowed the volunteers to shower and get refreshed for the following day.

“To see the repeat customers come back and tell us ‘You sure know how to season that chicken’ and thank us for our help made us feel that we were investing not just working,” Shields said.

Other efforts have taken place through the years, such as cooking hamburgers for hurricane victims, remodeling houses after wildfires, taking barbecue to farmers during harvest and donating money after a variety of disasters.

Through it all, Capital Farm Credit has been there for its members and communities, and the impact from the support has not gone unnoticed.

“’Thank you’ can never be words enough to express our gratitude for all you so graciously did for our community, as we began recovery after Hurricane Harvey,” wrote an administrator of Silsbee Oaks Health Care nursing home in a thank you note to CFC employees. “You inspired us with your energy, your boundless generosity and your genuine compassion for others. We will never forget you and your magnanimous spirit that so uplifted us in such a trying time.”

The actions of CFC in times of crisis show that we are involved, physically, emotionally, and financially, Shields said.

“Not only do I think it is a great thing to do, I feel it is the right thing to do,” he said. “I know we also helped with other disasters due to flooding and Panhandle fires. I was not directly involved in those efforts, but I know they were greatly received, as evidenced by the feedback from local customers in my travels.”