08/07/2026
People have been asking what they can do to support the community that supports all the folks who attend the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival and associated activities. We will share more information and ways the music community can extend support as resources develop. The ranchers in and around Weiser have had their lives devastated... read the message below and Donate or share here:
https://gofund.me/09fb4b163
The recent wildfires have devastated our Weiser-area farming and ranching community. Families have lost pasture, hay, fencing, equipment, livestock, structures, and almost all of the grazing range sits in ashes. The financial losses are already in the millions of dollars, and the road to recovery will be long.
My name is Brent Roberts, and I was born and raised here in Weiser, and many of the people affected by the fires are family and close friends. Like so many others, I couldn't stand by and watch our community suffer. My wife and I spent the first days of the fire alongside family, friends, neighbors, and firefighters, helping battle spot fires and doing whatever we could to help.
I'm organizing this fundraiser to provide direct assistance to farm and ranch families whose agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by these fires. The focus of this effort is specifically on those who rely on farming and ranching as their primary livelihood and are now facing the enormous challenge of rebuilding. Every dollar donated will be used to purchase critical recovery supplies, including hay, railroad ties, T-posts, fencing materials, and other verified needs.
I am not taking any compensation for organizing this effort. I am simply a member of this community who wants to help our neighbors recover. I will provide regular updates so donors can see how funds are being used, what has been purchased, and the impact your generosity is making. In the meantime, everyone is still in crisis mode - putting out fires and focusing on the imperatives to keep cattle alive - so I am still in the information-gathering stage of identifying all of the ranches impacted and what is going to help them the most. Rather than distributing cash, I will work directly with affected families to identify their most urgent needs and purchase essential supplies so donations provide the greatest possible benefit.
While this fundraiser cannot replace everything that has been lost, it can provide relief and help these families begin rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.
If you are able, please consider donating. If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser with your family, friends, and social networks is another meaningful way to help. Together, we can stand with our neighbors and remind them they are not facing this alone.
Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.
Donate or share here:
https://gofund.me/09fb4b163
