‘We Can’t Afford to Lose Our Farmers’: Tennesseans Rally to Deliver Supplies After Hurricane Helene

In the face of unimaginable loss and devastation, a story of unity and hope is unfolding in East Tennessee. After Hurricane Helene tore through the region, flooding farms and leaving many without resources, local farmers sprang into action. Their rallying cry? “We’re going to be here for you.”

Dan Pearman, a farmer from Claiborne County, led the charge. He saw the immediate need for hay and feed to support livestock, essential resources that local farmers had lost to the floodwaters. “We can't afford to lose our farmers because we're already getting behind the way it is,” Pearman shared. “So anything that we can do. I know this is just a drop in the bucket what we're doing today is just a small amount of what they're going to need to make it.” With that vision, he organized a convoy to bring supplies directly to those in need.

The first convoy rolled into Cocke County with over 60 trucks full of hay, and the response was overwhelming. Farmers, volunteers, and neighbors gathered in solidarity, touched by the generosity that Pearman and his group of helpers brought. "It’s overwhelming in a lot of ways,” he reflected, “because I wasn’t quite expecting this amount of participation and turnout. But I’m so blessed that it’s happened the way it has."

One of the volunteers, Milton Orr from the University of Tennessee Extension Office in Greene County, described the effort as a “lifeline.” He explained, “There are a lot of bad feelings whenever you see your friends and neighbors lose everything they’ve got. And then, in the darkest of clouds, here comes all your friends and your neighbors.”

The heartwarming display didn’t end there. Claiborne County farmers, such as Andy Welch and Brian Alexander, selflessly shared their harvests. Welch, his barns full of hay, felt called to help, saying, “We’re blessed here in this area, or I feel like we are. I’ve got all my barns full of hay and I feel like I need to help.” Alexander, who had 300-400 rolls of hay in reserve, added, “Those guys over there, they’ve lost basically everything. They’ve lost their animals, their farm buildings, and their hay.”

The community response was swift. Alexander mentioned his church had raised nearly 1,500 pounds of animal feed within hours, delivered by kindhearted members who came together with one goal: to support their neighbors. "It’s the good people getting together," he remarked. "There’s good-hearted people in this community.”

Pearman’s vision of “Farmers Helping Farmers” continued to grow, and the generosity spread beyond East Tennessee. As word traveled, more volunteers and resources poured in, bringing a renewed sense of hope to a region in need. Pearman shared his plans to expand the initiative to other counties, saying, “We’ve got a lot of people that are motivated right now, and it’s a good time to keep them motivated.”

These efforts are a powerful reminder of the resilience embedded in small-town America. While the floods took much, the spirit of compassion and unity remained unshaken. As Alexander put it, “I’d rather help the community, help my neighbors. I mean, we’re the volunteer state.”

When the days seemed darkest, these farmers proved that hope and kindness could be just as powerful as any storm. Their actions remind us all of the strength found in coming together, helping one another, and never losing faith in the power of community.

Karyn Clark from Claiborne Economic Partnership shared with The Bright Story, “We are honoring 'Farmers Helping Farmers' at our annual 'A Claiborne County Christmas' Festival & Lighted Tractor Parade, dedicated to our agricultural heritage. This year, we’re including a truck used to transport hay, honoring those who helped their neighbors. Farmers are special people here, and we’re proud of all they do. The lighted tractor parade is on Nov. 16.”