Friends, neighbors come together to help at harvest time

WAUSA — Wausa area residents didn’t have to think twice when they heard a neighbor was in need.

“It’s a hidden secret of a small town, the neighbors and friends know how to rally around someone to help them in a time of need,” said Tim Johnson, fellow farmer and close friends of Mike and Lisa Nissen.

Johnson helped to organize a Harvest Bee to aid the Nissen family this harvest after it was recently discovered that Lisa’s breast cancer had metastasized to her liver.

Lisa will be traveling to the Mayo Clinic in the near future.

“If I were in his shoes, I would want the stress of harvest to be over with,” said Johnson.

With that thought, Johnson called and asked Nissen for permission to organize a Harvest Bee to finish up with the 2018 soybean harvest.

Mike graciously gave him the go-ahead.

Johnson made a few calls to fellow farmers, after just a couple of calls, “my phone was ringing off the hook,” said Johnson.

There was an overwhelming response of farmers wanting to lend a hand and machinery to get the job done, something that makes rural communities stand out.

There were approximately 30 farmers who agreed to come and combine around 480 acres of beans for the Nissen family. There were about 10 combines present at the Harvest Bee, with plenty of semis and grain carts for added support.

At the time of the Harvest Bee, the farmers focused on finishing up all Nissen’s soybeans. Nissen farms corn in 20 inch rows, while many farmers in the area farm 30 inch rows, according to Johnson, area farmers are hoping to harvest the corn at a later date.

The women of the community also lent their hands to the Harvest Bee. Women organized a meal for the hard, dedicated working farmers.

“It means everything to our family, we have the best circle of friends who have helped through this entire journey,” said Lisa Nissen.

Through this act of kindness and love, her husband will be able to focus on his family.

In addition to the Harvest Bee, community members have supported the Nissen family through the entire journey by bringing meals while Lisa was doing chemo, and giving support as needed for the family.

Mike and Lisa Nissen have three children; Darren, attends college at Rapid City, Paige is a senior at Wausa High School; and Jonathon, is a freshman at Wausa.

Lisa works as an RN at the Osmond Hospital.