![]() ![]() The produce grown on this delta farm has fed generations of people across the country. "Everybody just came out for us," Sarah said. Community members have been offering nonstop support to the family. It's a big loss for the small town of Courtland, which is holding its annual Pear Fair this coming Sunday. "We're trying to figure out what happened, but he was doing what he does and making sure that harvest could go on the next day," Sarah said. A hazmat team responded to the scene and said it appears Matt was overcome by the toxic fumes. Matt and Sarah have two boys - 11 and 13.įire crews were called to the farm last Sunday after gallons of ammonia began leaking from the orchard's cold storage facility. "He loved his trees and he loved his kids," Sarah said. She said her husband and his sister Virginia are the sixth generation of family members to work these fields, and Matt was dedicated to carrying on their farming legacy. "He was kind of an anchor out here," said Matt's wife Sarah Hemly. ![]() The annual pear harvest at the Greene and Hemly family orchard began on Monday, just one day after 47-year-old Matt Hemly was killed in a bizarre accident on the farm that his family has owned since the gold rush days. A toxic chemical leak has claimed the life of a local family farmer whose orchard has been in business for more than 150 years. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |