VALLEY — The Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation has donated $20,000 to help those affected by the Spring Creek Fire in Huerfano and Costilla counties. Along with a generous donation from Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance, the money will be given to individuals who were affected by the massive fire.

“The fire laid waste to the property and homes of many farmers, ranchers and families in the area,” said Don Shawcroft, president of the Colorado Farm Bureau who is from the San Luis Valley. “Many families were tragically impacted by this disaster. We hope that this donation can help lessen the pain for these families, even if it’s only a little bit.”

The $20,000 donation to Spring Creek Fire victims is in addition to funds being raised through the Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. One hundred percent of the donated funds will go directly to victims of the Spring Creek Fire and others impacted around the state. 

The Spring Creek Fire is the third largest fire in Colorado history, burning more than 108,000 acres and destroying more than 140 structures. The fire escalated quickly after it began due to unpredictable, high winds and extremely dry conditions. At one point, it grew more than 8,000 acres in one day. ??

“For many, recovery is going to be long and hard,” continued Shawcroft. “While we know these donations won’t solve everything, we hope that they help start the rebuilding process.”?

?Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation is continuing to accept donations to add to this fund. If donating by check, please note Disaster Fund-CO Wildfire in the memo line on the check. Cash and checks can be sent to:??Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation?Attn: Disaster Fund?9177 E. Mineral Circle?Centennial, CO 80112??To make an online donation go to https://www.coloradofarmbureau.com/foundation. All major credit cards are accepted.??

Once donations are collected, the foundation will collect applications for funds from those impacted by the fire. ?

?The Colorado Farm Bureau has a long history of raising funds for disaster relief. Most recently the Foundation raised funds for victims of the Logan/Phillips fire, which burned 30,000+ acres in March of last year. The Foundation was successful in raising and distributing more than $350,000 in funds for impacted farmers and ranchers.??

About the Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation??The CFB Foundation is the 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation of the Colorado Farm Bureau. The foundation operates a catastrophic disaster fund dedicated to assisting farmers and ranchers in need following agricultural disasters such as blizzard, flood or wildfire. The fund was initially established to assist farmers and ranchers in southwest Colorado following devastating blizzards of 2007 and has been activated to support victims of the Heartstrong Fire in Yuma in 2012, the Colorado floods of 2013, the 2017 Northeast Colorado Wildfire and other rural natural disasters.?