By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP, Ind. — When Gary and Rhonda Kerr’s son, Kyle, 13, was killed in a farming accident, their friends and neighbors gathered to finish the family’s combining.

It was a sight – five combines harvesting soybeans in the field. The community spirit that brought it about was a memory to be treasured, stated Donna Williams, commenting in the online publication Franklin County Observer.

The accident happened on the previous Saturday, a warm, sunny day, as Kyle’s father combined nearby, Williams said. Kyle was watching the grain unload from a semi-hopper truck into a pit. For reasons unknown, he entered the truck and was drawn under the corn.

“Kyle was raised on the farm,” said Williams (the Kerrs rent two farms from Don and Donna Williams).

“He was a very bright kid. He was on the academic team at Mt. Carmel Elementary School and was president of the 4-H club.”
After the accident, neighbor Dave Kaiser organized the community harvest. What was wonderful was that people came to him and volunteered, Kaiser said; he didn’t have to ask anyone. Several ladies brought lunch. It was quite a good day.

The farmers harvested the Kerrs’ remaining 120 acres of soybeans on the farm, which was recently designated an Indiana Hoosier Homestead. Todd Frondorf, Paul Kaiser, Carl Walter, Don Wendel, Glenn Williams and Doug Robertson operated combines.
Doug Hoerst, Joe Hoerst, Jeff McClure, Bob Minges, Gregg Taylor and Glenn Williams furnished semi trucks and hauled the grain. A support crew of 20 pitched in and helped with the harvest, and Marilyn Wendel and Joyce Frondorf served lunch.

Kyle had a brother, Cody, who attends Purdue University, and two sisters – Kaitlyn in Franklin County High School, and Madi, who attends Mt. Carmel Elementary. Kerr family members came to watch the harvesting.

“It was a good harvest, Williams said. “It filled more than four semi trucks.”