Support Brad and Sara

Hey folks, I'm Jim Fuglestad, and Brad Forness has been who I still consider my best friend since we were 14 starting our freshman year of high school at Oak Grove. My secret security question when I set up accounts when they ask "who is your best friend" has been "Brad" since they started making answer the questions. I suppose I'll need to change that now I just broadcasted it. I can change the answer but not the friend.

For those who don't know, just before Thanksgiving Brad suffered a massive stroke while at work. Central Cass High School is a 30 minute drive to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, and for victims of stroke time is imperative. By God's Grace Brad made it through the initial hours and days. A portion of Brad's skull was removed to take pressure off his brain swelling. While he is making a remarkable recovery given the severity of the stroke, he - and Sara - have a long journey in front of them. Brad is currently residing at a rehabilitation center in Fargo for an indefinite period, but with the positive outlook of returning to the farm.

Anyone who knows Brad and Sara and their farm... will appreciate and understand why this fundraiser isn't really a fundraiser. It's give-back time. It's give-back for the decades of memories. It's payback for opening their farm to everyone. It's payback for the laughs and smiles, bonfires, conversation, tears, near death experiences, horseback rides, ATV rides, rope-swinging, movies, fresh coffee at the table, shoveling shit in the barn, touching animals, riding homemade mechanical bulls, existential conversations, sunsets... how much longer should I go on? I can keep going.

With the challenges ahead, mobility around the farm will be challenging for Brad. The banner image is a photo of Brad taking my kids around the farm in 2004 with their ATV. That is still today their ATV. They need a new one. They deserve one. It's give-back time, folks. We're going to show the strength of the community that Brad has given us. Brad's strength and heart are more valuable than any job, more than any education, more than anything I've certainly strived for. I've done the striving thing wrong.

Let's get them a brand-spankin' new side-by-side UTV for them to spend the next chapter of their lives side by side on the farm. Something like this... https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yamahamotorsports.com%2Futility-side-by-side&psig=AOvVaw2l21N_PtOkdTmLDYvUilL2&ust=1671647495782000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCMjt8KLqiPwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAF

But hey, if donations go above... they could probably use a new coffee maker as well.

I also want to make a specific callout to Sara. Thank you. You can read everything into that "thank you".