Hey everyone, I need your help.

My sister-in-law, Ashley Rouse, lost her barn in a fire this morning, December 1st, 2022, just south of Luzerne, Iowa. It was completely unexpected, as these things are. However, the barn and all of its contents are a total loss. It wasn't just the material things, the supplies, the stalls, the feed and all of their hay for lambing. There was also loss of life involved as well. She lost a finished barrel horse named Sassy, four Suffolk ewes (who were going to give birth this upcoming weekend), and two sows with 22 piglets between them. Two of those ewes were her daughter's 4H ewes from years past.

Ashley was blessed that the rest of her flock and mini horses were not in the barn. But now she doesn't have a barn to house any of her animals for lambing or emergency. There are a few mini horses and sheep that have to go to the vet for smoke inhalation treatment today. Many of them will have to be moved to other locations until a barn can be rebuilt.

I know this time of year is tight for everyone, and honestly, Ashley has a hard time asking for help. However, this is one of those situations where we need help. It is winter in Iowa, and farmers cannot go into winter without a barn to house animals and provide shelter as well as storage. Please, if you can help her by donating anything, any little bit helps.

Today will be spent waiting for the rest of the smoldering to stop, moving surviving animals to new locations, and throwing together a makeshift shelter. We will be super busy for the foreseeable future. And with Christmas coming, it will be even harder on her and her kids. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pray for us.