Wyoming organizations and businesses are coming together to raise money to provide fencing supplies to farmers and ranchers who need help following this summer’s wildfires.

There were five fires that summer: House Draw, Flat Rock, Constitution, Remington, and Fish Creek. All of them primarily destroyed farms and ranches in the northern part of the state.

Among the areas most devastated by the House Draw fire was Dave Belus’ ranch, located about 15 miles east of Buffalo. He lost more than 46,000 acres of his land, which he said is about 90 percent of the land on that particular ranch.

Belus said that day was forever etched in his memory.

“We didn’t know what the range was,” Belus said. “We didn’t know what we had, what we lost. All I know is when I came over the hill coming out of Sheridan, the billow of smoke was unbelievable.”

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Belus said the House Draw fire started near his property and was initially caused by a lightning strike on Aug. 21. Belus said the fire killed 10 cattle and the flames destroyed hundreds of fence posts.

“You can see the fence is literally lying on the ground,” Belus told MTN as he drove around his property. “It just burned everything.”

Somehow, buildings and structures on the grounds remained upright. Belus said there were several very close calls.

His daughter’s house is on land adjacent to his. The flames reached up to her house and surrounded it. A dirt road is the only thing connecting her house to the burnt fields.

“By the grace of God, we didn’t lose too many livestock and the buildings survived without any problems,” Belus said. “I’m not really sure how it happened, but we’re very lucky.”

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Even if the buildings survive, the land is a shadow of what it once was. There are few pastures that survive, and the dilapidated fences make it impossible to keep cattle.

“It’s hard to see because we put a lot of time and effort into these ranches,” Belus said. “We want to keep our animals on our land. We don’t want to bother anyone.”

Belus’ dilemma is common across the state. Gene Bard of the Farmer’s Co-op in Sheridan said this is the most devastating summer of fires the agriculture industry has seen in Wyoming in decades.

“Hundreds and hundreds of miles of fences have been destroyed,” Bard said. “It’s terrible. It’s their livelihood. They work so hard every day, and when you see it all go up in smoke, it’s devastating.”

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That’s why his company is partnering with organizations and community members across the state to help. Bard said they’re working closely with a nonprofit called the Big Horn Equestrian Center to raise money to help rebuild the fences.

“Success as a rancher equals success as a business in the city,” Bard said. “So it’s a full circle. Really.”

Bard said donations can go directly to the Equestrian Center or Farmer’s Co-op, and all proceeds will go to help farmers across the state. Belus said it’s a gesture that means the world to him and others in this time of need.

“Just having that support means you’re not fighting alone,” Belus said. “You have people trying to raise money, trying to get fencing supplies, who are there for you when you need it most.”

Belus said with an uphill battle ahead, he has all the support he needs to tackle the rebuild, knowing that adversity is part of the job.

“Nobody said it would be an easy life, but it’s the life we ​​choose,” Belus said with a smile. “And we like it, so it’ll be okay.”