Harvest is a critical time for farmers in North Dakota to get crop in before it starts to deteriorate in the field.

This is also the worst time for a farmer to suffer a season ending injury.

That's exactly what happened to Jeff Delzer, who farms near Underwood.

A fall from a trailer broke many bones.

But rather than letter a crop waste away in a field, Jeff's neighbors rallied together today to help a fellow farmer in need.

Shaun Sipma was there today for the Delzer harvest bee.

(Tim Delzer, Jeff's Brother) "Well we were unloading a header off of a trailer and he fell and broke his leg, his wrist and his shoulder."


That was on Monday

Jeff and Tim Delzer had already cut more than 500 acres of spring wheat into windrows and were getting ready pick it up with the combine when Jeff fell from the trailer.

(Tim Delzer, Jeff's Brother) "Tuesday Paul called and asked if he could, told me he was putting some combines together to help Jeff."


(Paul Anderson, Jeff's Neighbor) "I got on the horn and called some of the neighbors and had this lined up within a couple of hours.

And in a couple of hours the accident that looked like the end of this crop was given new life

Neighbors from miles around were rallied and when the wheat was perfecting for the picking today it all was set in motion.

(Paul Anderson, Jeff's Neighbor) "Got some neighbors with combines, some neighbors with carts, some neighbors with trucks so it was a good mix of all the equipment we need."


(Tim Delzer, Jeff's Brother) "If Jeff and I were working we would probably be able to do it in three and half or four days. (nat sound) "If I was doing it by myself it would take me a solid week to do it."


Cutting days down to mere hours, more than 500 hundred acres was harvested and hauled by eager neighbors, who left their own fields, to help a fellow farmer in need.

(Paul Anderson, Jeff's Neighbor) "Hopefully we take a load off of Jeff so he can worry about just healing up so."


A good dose of North Dakota neighborly generosity... some of the best medicine a person can ask for.

(Tim Delzer, Jeff's Brother) "Thank you guys it's great to live in North Dakota."


Near Underwood, Shaun Sipma KX News.

Jeff Delzer not only farms near Underwood but is a Representative for District 8, and was the Speaker of the House for the 2007 Legislative Session. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list