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PARADISE, Cache County – A small farming community rallied around one of their own Saturday night, the victims of a devastating barn fire in March.
“I’m just overwhelmed. My heart is full,” said Teresa Olsen.
She and her husband, Phil Olsen, lost their hay barn and farm equipment in a March 7 fire, causing a total of $200,000 in damage.
Hundreds showed up to the Benefit Barn Dance and barbeque, which was held at a private farm in Avon. A local band played music on a stage while Blake Pulsipher and his family dished up pulled-pork sandwiches and hot dogs.
“We’re small-town America, and small-town America pays everything forward, so you help out the people who need it,” Pulsipher said.
Pulsipher runs a catering business and donated the food.
Everything at the benefit, which featured a bake sale, raffle and bounces houses was donated by people in the community.
Margaret Gittins, who grew up next to the Olsen family, organized the fundraiser immediately after the barn fire.
We're small-town America, and small-town America pays everything forward, so you help out the people who need it.
–Blake Pulsipher, catering business owner
“I’ve done quite a few fundraisers over the last few years, and this by far has been the easiest fundraiser to do,” Gittins said. “Even a mention of the fundraiser after the barn fire, and people were calling me asking me what they could do.”
Teresa Olsen became emotional thinking about the generosity of her neighbors and friends.
“All I could do is stand and cry and think about how many hours have been spent putting this together, and how much these people care about us,” she said.
The Olsens say their 11-year-old grandson accidentally started the fire when he hit a nail with a rock, causing a spark. Insurance will cover most of their loss, they said, and their business will survive.
“You know we’re really blessed because nobody’s house went down and nobody got hurt,” Phil Olsen said.
The couple is humbled, and even a little embarrassed about the attention. They don’t want be the only ones to benefit from this benefit, they said, and plan to pay it forward too. They will donate some of the money to help others in need in the community, including a fellow farmer in Hyrum who was injured by a falling bale of hay in November.
“I don’t know how to tell everyone thanks for what they’ve done,” Teresa Olsen said. We’re grateful.”
