It’s called a bomb-cyclone. It’s a hurricane-like winter storm that combines heavy rains with strong winds and some early spring snowfall.

Common to the Midwest, such a bomb-cyclone recently cause crop and livestock losses, flooding and damage in Nebraska of more than $800 million. The losses may top out at $1 billion.

Enter the Future Farmers of America at Montoursville Area High School Alumni Association and the Lycoming County Farm Bureau. They embarked on a joint effort with the high school’s FFA group to collect donations of hay, water and non-perishable food to send to Verdigre, Nebraska, the heart of the damaged area.

Hay has been donated by area farmers and trucks rounded up to transport hay and other supplies to Nebraska. More donations for gas to fuel the trucks are needed.

Fencing has been destroyed by flooding and people are being sought to buy and ship fencing to the Midwest.

One of the teaching goals of the FFA is service to others. We can think of no better forum for that than the current plight of farmers in the Midwest. And we salute this combination of learning and giving that is going on right now in our area.

In our somewhat rural region, there are plenty of farmers who can relate to the helplessness of their brethren in the Midwest against the whims of nature. It’s a reality most of them have dealt with at one time or another in their lives.

What tends to get forgotten in this land of plenty is that the farmers in our rural area still are the people who put the food on everyone’s table. They don’t get the media attention. They don’t have politicians catering to them.

All they do is work and perform to the betterment of all of us.

We are heartened that the people in this region are coming to their aid when they need it most.