A GoFundMe page has been set up for the owners of the Cayuga County barn destroyed by a Wednesday night fire.
Crews from multiple area fire departments battled the blaze at Rodan Farms on Blakely Rd in Genoa. After several hours the fire was able to be extinguished; however, the barn was a total loss.
Brenda Fink, GoFundMe’s organizer, is the sister of Mary Bassett and sister-in-law of Kevin Bassett, the dairy farm’s owners. Speaking with Finger Lakes News Radio, she said that only ten of the over 100 cows inside the barn were able to be saved from the fire. She added that fire also destroyed the robotic milking equipment inside, something the Bassetts had only acquired about a year ago.
According to Fink, the money will be used to help pay a mortgage, loans, and bills for the family, as the family farm was Kevin’s only source of income.
In just one day of being active, the GoFundMe reached over 25% of its $50,000 goal. Fink said this is a testament to the sense of community in Cayuga County, especially among farmers.
“When one farm is down, they all come together as a community,” Fink told Finger Lakes News Radio. “I am so thankful for everyone in the community who has donated so far. They’ve far exceeded anything I thought we’d get.”
She added that the family plans to rebuild.
If you’d like to donate to help the Bassetts, you can do so at gofundme.com.
