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Hanna Conner types a quick message and swipes her cell phone to take a call; it’s a donated piece of equipment headed to the wrong location. Before she can complete the call, there’s another one – a semi-load of hay is coming in – and it’s going directly to either a ranch or the animal supply point.

Conner is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture and natural resources agent for Hutchinson County. She oversees the Animal Supply Point, which was established after the Smokehouse Creek fire – the largest wildfire ever in Texas – swept through the region.

Her phone has been going off nonstop since that time, as she does what AgriLife Extension is known for – offering a helping hand and working alongside her community members to teach best practices for this wildfire disaster response.

Conner’s co-worker Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Potter County who has been helping at the animal supply point, explained that as an agriculture and natural resources county agent, she is there to ultimately help producers “take care of their livestock and their livelihoods.”

The Animal Supply Points were established on Feb. 28 in three locations, serving the east, north and west locations hit hardest by the multiple fires that ravaged the pastureland in six counties. Almost immediately, the donations began rolling in.

“AgriLife Extension is uniquely positioned because we serve all communities of this state, with county offices serving all 254 counties. Our local agents are there; they are a part of the community, so when a disaster like these wildfires happens, we are already embedded and a part of those communities,” said Rick Avery, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension director, Bryan-College Station.

“Most importantly, as the communities recover from this incident, we are still going to be there providing services and helping communities heal, both agriculturally and comprehensively as a community,” Avery said. “That’s what makes us different from all other state agencies. Not only are we relied upon as a legitimate, timely source of information, but we are also a part of the community, and that is how we make a difference in the lives of Texans.”

The supply points are rapidly filling with feed, hay, fencing materials and other animal-related supplies. When asked why the AgriLife Extension sites were chosen as the destination of donations and supplies traveling from across the country, Conner and Eikner said, almost simultaneously, “We work for the Texas A&M System, a trusted place,” and “We are trusted to provide that oversight.”

Sean Semko, who has been on the job for two months as an AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Response, DAR, agent in San Angelo, said some of these ranchers have been building their herds for five generations and others for five months.

However, they all need subject matter experts who can advise them on the next steps to take during the disaster. He explained how they need someone to help them find a safe place for their animals in addition to finding feed to help sustain the livestock until they can get back on their feet.

Semko, like other DAR agents from across the state, was deployed to the Texas Panhandle to help coordinate and organize the supply point, load and unload hay and supplies, and manage inventory in support of the local county agent.

Richie Griffin, DAR area chief for the East Region, said the network is what makes AgriLife Extension great – no individual has to be an expert in everything.

“If I need an economist or a beef cattle nutritionist, we have that network of experts, and they can help us better understand the needs and wants of the people we are here to serve,” Griffin said.

The direct contact each county agent can provide to those affected in their area is unique, and their connections with local and regional businesses allow them to respond quickly. And not just within their individual counties but as a team.

Marcus Preuninger, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Gray County, is a part of that team. Being fairly new to his county, he relied on his mentors to help him learn how best to serve his community and meet their needs.

Gray County was affected by both the Smokehouse Creek fire on the north side and the Grape Creek fire to the south. He said because many ranchers are still assessing their damages and needs, they cannot always come to the supply points, so they have been shipping supplies straight to the ranches.

“We all have communities of people who want to help, and we can mobilize them quickly,” Eikner said.

Conner, who is going through her first disaster as an agent, said the teamwork and camaraderie between the neighboring county agents made this disaster response possible. Working as a network, they can combine resources to address needs across the affected areas.

“People know who we are, and they trust us to give out their donations to those in need,” she said. “We have people who can find the people who need feed and hay, even if they are not able to come to our supply point, or people who can search for what they need if it is not here.”

Agents not only have duties related to their jobs when it comes to wildfire disaster response, but they also volunteer wherever they are needed because they are members of the communities.

For Conner, it was one of those connections that made her walk away from her phone after spending 15 hours a day for nine days in a row at the supply point. On March 5, Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith died in the line of duty.

Tears flowed as she relayed how Smith was more than just a community member – he was a friend, even serving as the president of her livestock show board. He was someone “I could call for anything I needed.”

Being relatively new to her position, she worried when the disaster struck that she didn’t know the ranchers well enough to help those in need, so she called Smith for advice. Smith worked on the ranches, so he knew the needs. On that particular day, after the fire had passed, a rancher needed people on horseback, so she reached out and got some Clarendon College students to work on the ranch.

“He was always there for me.” So, that one afternoon, she walked away and drove through the burned-out country to take time for herself but was right back at it the next day.

Even Eikner, who worked for seven years in Canadian, found herself back in her hometown volunteering over the weekend.

“Something in my soul told me to go, and I walked smack into my long-time friend who lost 25 head of her herd,” she said. “After hugging and crying, we got down to business.”

Eikner immediately went to work determining the needs of the ranch, finding those needs at the Animal Supply Point, and arranging for them to be delivered to the ranch amid the blowing dirt and smoke rising from the burned pastures. She also connected with the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team and got them out there.

“It was the perfect Texas A&M System response. Their whole life was upended, and we could be there to help. I’ll never forget it because I know God put me in the right place at the right time,” Eikner said.

Griffin said, without fail, everyone has always been grateful for the AgriLife Extension supply points.

“The genuine thankfulness, the hugs, the chaplain coming by each morning to pray with us, the tightknit communities that are all so appreciative of everything we are trying to do here – those are the memories I will keep forever,” he said.

He explained how the AgriLife Extension office and the county agents are staples in those communities, so they already knew where they could get help, whether in the form of supplies or education.

“The communities know we are here for the long-term recovery process,” Griffin said. “Right now, some producers still have fire on their places. But they will come in eventually for help recovering.”

Preuninger agreed.

“We are here for them. They trust us with their education, and they trust us with their kids, so when it comes to a disaster, they trust us to be here for them through that.”

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce recognized Ted Shaller with the 2024 Saints’ Roost Award for his lifetime of service and commitment to the community during the annual Chamber Awards Banquet last Thursday, February 29.

Man of the Year honors went to Steve Reynolds, and Machiel Covey was named the Woman of the Year.

The Donley County State Bank was named the Business of the Year, and the Bread of Life Ministry was named the Volunteer Organization of the Year.

The Saints’ Roost Award is the highest honor given annually by the Chamber to recognize a lifetime of volunteering and community service.

Shaller was recognized for his long history of working to help people in need. He has served on the Donley County AgriLife Extension Advisory Board and on the Appraisal Board. More than 20 years ago, he established what later became known as the Christ’s Kids Outreach Ministry, one of the great charities of our community. As a member of the Lions Club, he has worked tirelessly to raise funds for special projects and recently helped increase donations to a community blood drive by a factor of five by getting out and promoting the event. You’ll find him everyday, quietly performing mission and other volunteer work, always seeking to serve and never giving himself any recognition.

The Man of the Year for 2023 was Steve Reynolds also has a long history of serving others. As a member of the United Christians Breakfast, he was one of the men who could be depended upon to cook for others at that ministry. For more than ten years, he has worked with the Bread of Life Ministry, sorting food and preparing boxes during the distribution days, and then afterward he delivers food to about 20 shut-in households. He’s a man with a heart for serving others, and he always has a smile.

Machiel Covey was named Woman of the Year for working for working with the VFW and her many hours of service to the community. She spent about eight years volunteering with the VFW, serving as its secretary for five years and helping with all fundraisers. She supports community events, decorates chamber banquet tables, helps with the chuckwagon cookoff, participates in Independence Day festivals. She helped oversee the placements of flags at Citizens Cemetery and on the Courthouse lawn for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. As a member of the Clarendon Lions Club, she has continued to help with the flag service and has become active in the Texas Ramp Project and chairs the local ramp building team. She is also active with the Friends of the Library. As city secretary for 14 years, she helps keep our city running smoothly and is a member of the Team Municipal Clerks Association. Through it all, she holds the welfare of the people of Clarendon close to heart.

The Chamber of Commerce named the Donley County State Bank as its Business of the Year. Serving the community since 1906, the bank has been led by the Knorpp family. Wesley Knorpp started as a cashier in 1906 and later became president in 1920 and held that position until 1949. He had faith in his fellow man and received enjoyment in watching and helping others to prosper. W. Carroll Knorpp became president in 1960 and had worked at the bank from 1928 until he retired in 1995. Like his father, he was praised for his generosity, a man whose word was his bond, and for his warm heart wrapped by a gruff voice. Following Carroll and Wesley’s footsteps, Walt Knorpp, Todd Knorpp, and their family have continued the tradition of a local bank that believes in our community and its citizens and takes pride in all the things that make Clarendon great.

The Volunteer Organization of the Year was the Bread of Life Ministry, which started in 2011 as food pantry at the Methodist Church, serving about 30 families per month, and it has grown to a community-wide, faith-based ministry that serves more than 150 families and almost 500 people every month. It was founded by Katherine Monroe, but many people have followed in her footsteps with more than 20 regular volunteers who take time out of their day once a month to organize and distribute food to our neighbors. Other organizations in the community join to help, but the dedicated members of this organization make sure that people have the food they need to be secure.

The Chamber also recognized outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.

Cutter Seay was named the Young Man of the Year from Clarendon. He is active in UIL Academics, participating in Congress Debate, Informative Extemporaneous Speaking, Social Studies, Number Sense, and Film; and he is member of the Golf team and an officer in the Student Council, NHS, FFA, and the Babble-on Historic Society. He serves on committees at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center, is part of the Junior Museum Program at the Saints’ Roost Museum, and does community work at the historic S.W. Lowe House. He’s a writer with published works in a book and several newspapers. He is taking several dual credit classes with Clarendon College and has earned several Honor C’s. He plans on attending university to achieve a degree in architecture with a minor in history.

Courtlyn Conkin was named the Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon. She has been a member of Student Council for 4 years and is president during her senior year. She has been a member and president of FCCLA for two years, and she is an NHS member and a Student Liaison for Shattered Dreams. She’s been active in basketball, tennis, and cross country for four years and has been a football trainer and baseball manager. She volunteers with Snack Pack 4 Kids and the food bank. She earned an Honor C in family consumer science her sophomore year, was top student in interpersonal communications her junior year, and is in the top five in her class. She’s earned 33 hours of dual credit from Clarendon College. She has been All district basketball for three years, Offensive MVP her junior year, and Academic all-district for four years. She was the Team MVP for two years in tennis, Class officer for four years, and homecoming candidate two years. She plans on attending Clarendon College to get her associate’s degree and then attend Texas Tech University to get a degree in Kinesiology to become a Physical Education Specialist.

Liam Branigan was named the Young Man of the Year from Hedley. He has participated in football, track, One Act Play, FFA, and UIL Mathematics. He is a member of the Hedley National Honor Society as well as the collegiate honor society. He has participated and set several state records in the United States Powerlifting Association in the 13–18-year-old division. He plans to attend West Texas A&M University and study engineering next fall.

Flor Silvestre was named the Young Woman of the Year from Hedley. She is a member of the Hedley Lady Owls basketball team. She was crowned as the 2023 Hedley High School Homecoming Queen. She enjoys reading, sleeping, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and family.

This year’s Chamber banquet followed a 1970s “Peace Love Local” theme with many in attendance dressing the part and was catered by Great Western Dining. Approximately 185 people attended the event, which was held in the Bairfield Activity Center.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the band “Geezers Gone Wild” of Amarillo and Borger.

Tables were sponsored by the City of Clarendon, City of Howardwick, Clarendon College, The Clarendon Enterprise, Diamond K Horses, Donley County State Bank, Donley County Senior Citizens, Herring Bank, Pilgrim Bank, Saints’ Roost Museum, and Shelton & Shelton Law Offices.
Chamber President Ashlee Estlack named the Donley County Senior Citizens as having the Best Dressed Table during the banquet.
Estlack noted that for more than 100 years, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce has strived to improve the economy and living standards in our community.
“Although our organization was founded many years before, this July will mark the 100th anniversary of us chartering as a non-profit organization with the State of Texas,” she said.
This year’s corporate sponsors were Best Western Red River Inn; Budweiser; The Clarendon Enterprise; Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts; Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Greenbelt Water Authority; Liberty Electric, Plumbing, Construction & Heating & Air; REFZ Sports Bar & Grill; and Robertson Funeral Directors.

Hundreds of structures and homes, two lives, and thousands of head of livestock were destroyed last week by wildfires fed by dry conditions and high winds across several counties in the northeastern Panhandle.

Last Tuesday, smoke filled the air in Donley County, and that evening about 1,000 or more people evacuated from Pampa to Clarendon as the fires threatened that city.

Several local buildings and churches here were opened to allow those in need to take refuge here, and local volunteer firemen also provided mutual aid in fighting area fires.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire, which started in Hutchinson County, burned a total of 1,075,000 acres and has been declared as the largest in Texas history. And it was only one of multiple fires that threatened homes and livelihoods in the past week.