Jul 25, 2009 2:23 pm US/Mountain
Farmer Hit By Storm Gets Pay It 4ward Gift
Written by Suzanne McCarroll
PLATTEVILLE, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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CBS4 reporter Suzanne McCarroll talks to Joe Miller about the damage done to his farm by hail.
CBS
Eight hundred acres make up the Miller Family Farm in Platteville, Colo. The family has called this land home for nearly half a century, and customers flock to buy their fresh cantaloupe, green beans, corn and other produce. But hundreds of acres of crops were wiped out by Monday's hail and wind storm.
"You've just got to go on, you don't have time for tears now, later they'll come," said Chris Miller.
But what's coming now is droves of help from customers who love the Miller's produce. One CBS4 viewer, Elissa Adams, wants to pay it forward, asking CBS4 News to give $1,000 to the Millers.
"This is their livelihood, what do they do when their livelihood is gone?" Adams told CBS4.
Adams and other viewers buy the Millers produce at many farmers' markets around the state. They also remember last fall when the Millers allowed people short on funds and food to come pick produce free of charge.
"Now they need help, it's their turn," Adams said referring to the Millers.
This week as Joe Miller peruses the damage, he says he feels sick looking at the battered crops.
"I just feel like putting the "for sale" sign up and just quitting."
But then he sees the support of the community and the growing effort to help the family get back, so he begins thinking of ways to pay back the $1,000.
"We'll donate more than that much this fall in food."
The Millers are already replanting. They plan to be ready for the fall harvest. And when that occurs, the public will be notified that the Millers are back in full business thanks in part to the generosity of the community and CBS4 viewers.
Additional Resources
For more information about Miller Farms and for directions, visit the
Miller Farms Web site.
(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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