Doing Good: A Special Report
We pay homage to farmers and others in agriculture who give ’til it helps.
Dee Doolittle runs Mitchell Farm Equine, a horse retirement facility near Salem, Conn. Her farm at sunset made a beautiful setting, and she got her horse in a perfect (and very still) pose for the low-light cover photo of the Winter 2012 issue, shot by FarmLife Creative Director Jamie Cole.
Rick Gray: This Massey Ferguson dealership executive is planting seeds.
Dee Doolittle: Caring for “retired” horses at Mitchell Farm.
Bill Troxel and Kristie Lee: Bill Troxel has turned giving into an art form.
John and Jean Partington: The Partingtons give of their time and effort at home and abroad.
John Varty and Molly Daley: Educating the populace about the realities of farming.
Gay Wagner: For Wagner, it’s all about the kids in his hometown.
David Diehl: A Montana farmer overcame huge obstacles and now helps others do the same.
From AGCO, A Helping Hand: AGCO Corporation and its employees give time and money for causes around the world.
As a group, those who work in agriculture are some of the most generous people on the planet. We’re simply hardwired to help neighbors and strangers alike.
It’s that spirit we salute here, noting several extraordinary people and their stories of sacrifice and perseverance.
From those who travel to distant lands to assist people less fortunate to those who work in their own community, each person profiled here said they helped themselves while helping others.
They used words and phrases such as “rewarding” and “got way more out than I put in” to describe their own experiences. As you’ll see, their humility is as awesome as their generosity.
To be sure, the acts of kindness detailed on the following pages serve as inspiration for all of us to help make the world a better, more livable place. At AGCO, we hear that call too, working with groups here in North America, like FFA, and people abroad—those in Africa with whom we’re working to build a more sustainable agricultural infrastructure.
We wish we could’ve featured more of you in this story. We know you’re out there. So, to all of you who offer a helping hand in acts simple and grand, we say thanks for every burden you’ve lifted and smile you’ve brought to another’s face.
