Following a tragic accident near Francesville, Pulaski County is coming together to help one local family harvest their crops.
Tim Reidelbach was pronounced dead earlier this month as a result of a grain elevator explosion at the Tate and Lyle facility on September 26th. He was hospitalized for several days before succumbing to his injuries.
Reidelbach farmed land in a couple of locations throughout Pulaski County, but his fields have gone unharvested to this point. Now community members, led by Reidelbach’s brother-in-law Tony Kasten, will be providing a bit of assistance to the family to help them get the crops out of the ground.
“That way we can get the harvest all done quickly and they can get on with their lives and figure out where they are financially after the loss of Tim,” says Kasten.
Between 16 and 20 combines along with trucks and auger wagons will be split up between the locations to aid in the harvest on Thursday. More than 100 volunteers will also pitch in to help the family in their time of need.
Elevators will also remain open to ensure the corn is able to be stored properly in the time its being harvested. Following this year’s volunteer effort, farming operations will be left to Reidelbach’s son to carry on operations at the farm.
Kasten says the family has no enemies.
“Everybody’s heart went out to this kind of an accident. Lightning striking twice, I think, would be easier to have happen as opposed to what’s happened to Tim and [his wife.]”
The explosion was determined by the Indiana state fire marshal’s office to be an accident.
Meals will be served to the volunteers by local churches. Harvest will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday and will continue until the job is complete.
