The Marshallville area supports the Reed Hostetler family after tragic losses

Miranda McGrath
| Farmers’ advance

On the days fRemoving Reed Hostetler’s funeralHis family remains overwhelmed by the support of the community.

Hostetler, 31, died on March 5, after the tractor he operated on in a trash at his family’s milk farm on Fulton Road, near Marshallville.

His wife, Abby Hostetler, said that the response of friends, family and even foreigners was “unpleasant”.

“We are just thrown away by the way people rally around us,” she said. “I had people who were wiping the way, cleaning the barn, bringing food and even folding clothes. The agricultural community in Wayne County presented in ways I never expected. I had a tract line parked as a tribute to the REED and that meant so much. There were many people.”

Fundraiser increases beyond expectations

Following the accident, a family friend created a gofundme campaign to help Hostelers.

Abby Hostetler said there is no initial financial goal, but donations have far exceeded anything and imagined.

“My friend asked if he could determine him because people wanted to help, and I said for sure,” she said. “He has just grown exponentially. Someone told me that it is a blessing to see that the way Reed lived and lives is still to make sure that his children are offered, even in his death.”

The funds will help support Abby Hostetler and the three children of the couple, Baer, Claire and Ax.

A suitable tribute for a “farm boy at heart”

Reed Hostetler’s funeral took place in the barn Where he grew up, worked and married his wife later.

The decision to have services there was naturally felt, said Abby Hostetler, but it required extensive training.

“This is a working milk farm, so they had to adapt a lot to host people,” she said. “We didn’t even realize everything that happened behind the scenes. Someone brought portable toilets, which I didn’t even think about.

The result of support has strengthened the commitment of the Hostetler family to help others when the need appears.

“It really makes me know that in the future, when someone else in our community needs help, I will appear,” said Abby Hostetler.

A call for farm safety awareness

While still processing their loss, Hostetlers are already thinking about how to prevent similar tragedies.

Abby Hostelter hopes that their experience encourages farmers to take a closer look at safety practices.

“We cannot say for sure what happened, but I know that Reed was very conscious of safety and something happened,” she said. “I want to make sure everyone in agriculture and the agricultural community takes a step back and evaluates their farm and processes to make sure they are as safe as possible.”

For now, the family takes things daily and finds strength in the kindness of those around them.

“The amount of love and support I received is overwhelming,” said Abby Hostetler. “We continue to say that we are thanking that we do not feel enough, but it is all we have to offer now.”