The fall harvest is always a challenge, the days are long, the weather is cold and the work is tough. But farmers in Linn County have rallied around one of their own who is fighting a battle for his life. Sixty-year-old Dave Fisher was diagnosed with leukemia one week ago and is now undergoing chemotherapy instead of combining his fields. When Dave started the harvest, he felt run down and exhausted, but had no idea it was this bad.
Galen Lehr from Martell is a farmer too, and is one the neighbors who’re helping combine Fisher’s fields. “I’ve had more calls with people that want to know if they could do something to help. That’s just the kind of friend and neighbor he’s been,” Lehr says. Virlee says, “He’s got a lot of corn out here and we’re just helping him get it out.” Drew Virlee is another farmer from Martell. Lehr says it’s not unusual to have people chip in and help.
“That’s what you call the rural community, says Lehr.” “That’s what we do, if somebody is in need, we try to do everything we can to help.” Lehr says Fisher would do the same for others. Lehr says, “He’d drop anything he’s doing, even now, to come and help you if you need anything.” Dave and his wife Sue are still waiting on test results to see how advanced the cancer is. Dave will most likely spend the next three weeks in the hospital.