Neighbors Supporting Neighbors: IAS Helps Fund Life-Saving Equipment for Elma Fire & Rescue
Feb 13, 2026
When emergencies happen in rural communities, the people who respond are often the same people you see at the elevator, the local café, or the ball field.
That’s what makes this story personal.
Recently, IAS Elma Location Manager Kurt Christensen stood alongside Elma Fire Captain Jason Gardner at the Elma Fire Department. Together, they represented two groups deeply connected to the same mission, protecting the people and communities they serve.
Through the Innovative Ag Services Seeding Hope & Innovation Initiative, with matching funds from Land O’Lakes,
IAS provided $1,200 to help purchase a grain rescue auger for Elma Fire & Rescue.
This specialized equipment is designed for grain bin and grain handling emergencies, where time is critical. Unlike manual scooping, the rescue auger allows responders to remove grain quickly and safely, helping free a trapped individual faster when every second counts.
For volunteer departments like Elma Fire & Rescue, equipment like this is only possible through community support. Their team consists of local volunteers who respond to emergencies across the rural area, including incidents involving many IAS members and farm families.
Supporting organizations like Elma Fire & Rescue is a natural extension of IAS’s commitment to the communities we serve. Through the Seeding Hope & Innovation Initiative, IAS continues to invest in programs and equipment that strengthen rural safety, resilience, and the future of agriculture.
IAS is proud to stand alongside local leaders like Jason, Kurt, and the entire Elma Fire & Rescue team, because when communities are stronger, everyone benefits.
Learn more or apply for community funding at:
https://www.innovativeag.com/customer/seeding-hope
That’s what makes this story personal.
Recently, IAS Elma Location Manager Kurt Christensen stood alongside Elma Fire Captain Jason Gardner at the Elma Fire Department. Together, they represented two groups deeply connected to the same mission, protecting the people and communities they serve.
Through the Innovative Ag Services Seeding Hope & Innovation Initiative, with matching funds from Land O’Lakes,
IAS provided $1,200 to help purchase a grain rescue auger for Elma Fire & Rescue.
This specialized equipment is designed for grain bin and grain handling emergencies, where time is critical. Unlike manual scooping, the rescue auger allows responders to remove grain quickly and safely, helping free a trapped individual faster when every second counts.
For volunteer departments like Elma Fire & Rescue, equipment like this is only possible through community support. Their team consists of local volunteers who respond to emergencies across the rural area, including incidents involving many IAS members and farm families.
Supporting organizations like Elma Fire & Rescue is a natural extension of IAS’s commitment to the communities we serve. Through the Seeding Hope & Innovation Initiative, IAS continues to invest in programs and equipment that strengthen rural safety, resilience, and the future of agriculture.
IAS is proud to stand alongside local leaders like Jason, Kurt, and the entire Elma Fire & Rescue team, because when communities are stronger, everyone benefits.
Learn more or apply for community funding at:
https://www.innovativeag.com/customer/seeding-hope