After a fire torched their Nebraska ranch, anonymous donors came to their rescue
A massive wildfire in Nebraska destroyed 11,000 acres of land belonging to ranchers Mike and Kayla Wintz, threatening their livelihood. Without being asked, anonymous donors contributed approximately $80,000 worth of hay to help them and other affected ranchers. The outpouring of support, organized in part by volunteer Sara Cover, highlights widespread rural solidarity across state lines.
- ▪The Morrill Fire burned about 1,000 square miles of ranchland in western Nebraska, including all 11,000 acres of the Wintz family's leased land.
- ▪Mike and Kayla Wintz received around $80,000 worth of hay from anonymous donors after losing their grazing fields.
- ▪Sara Cover, a volunteer, has been coordinating donations and reported receiving up to 200 donation calls per day.
- ▪Donated hay convoys have traveled from as far as South Carolina, often cheered by local communities.
- ▪Every rancher offered the hay to their neighbor first, reflecting a culture of mutual aid.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
On The Road After a wildfire torched their Nebraska ranch, anonymous donors came to their rescue: "They don't want the glory" .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-evening-news.jpg'); } By Steve Hartman Steve Hartman Correspondent Steve Hartman is a CBS News correspondent. He brings viewers moving stories from the unique people he meets in his weekly award-winning feature segment "On the Road." Read Full Bio Steve Hartman Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 8:03 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Sandhills, Nebraska — Go to the edge of nowhere and keep heading toward the middle of it and you will eventually come to the home of Mike and Kayla Wintz, ranchers who live and work deep in the sandhills of western Nebraska.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Home - CBSNews.com.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Home - CBSNews.com
