But in the last several weeks the farming community has rallied around Broadlawn Farm with help coming from the youngest 4-Hers to a former governor.
On Thursday, members of the Berkshire Jammin' Critters 4-H Club of North Adams rolled up with advisers Teri Goodermote and her father, Jerry Goodermote, to present a check for $1,700.18.
"The outpouring of support has been amazing," said Mark Ziemba. "Between friends, family, community, everybody —- even the volunteer fire department was amazing putting everything out."
In addition to 4-H, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $66,000 toward a $75,000 goal. There have been a number of fundraisers with the lastest a spaghetti dinner being held on Monday night beginning at 4:30 at Bounti-Fare.
Adams firefighters and a host of other departments from around the area responded to the early Sunday morning fire that destroyed a large L-shaped barn (the electrical fire started in the connecting corner) that housed the dairy's cattle and feed. The cows, luckily, were outside at the time but the farm's bull was killed in the blaze when they couldn't get him to leave the barn.
The fire was battled to a standstill that saved the adjacent structures including the milking barn and the house. The farm crew had hustled the cows around the burning barns that morning to get them into the shed for milking.
"There's no looking back, look forward and keep going I guess," Ziemba said. "Since the milking was here, we could decide to milk the cows for a week or two and decide if we think we're going to make winter.
"If the milking was gone, the cows were gone a day later ... there's no question. We can't milk them, they can't stay."
But, he said, "with the support coming in we could decide and things move forward every day."
The dairy farm's been in the family for more than 75 years since it was purchased by Stanley J. Ziemba Sr. It's currently operated by a number of relatives including Victor, Mike, Chris and Laura Ziemba.
The Ziembas have about 300 head of cattle, about a third of those calves and just under 200 being milked.
The 4-H group had spent a Sunday outside Walmart in North Adams seeking donations and their bucket had filled as fast as they could empty it, Teri said. "It's enough to feed the cattle for 3 1/2 days," her father said.
Broadlawn's been getting a little more help in that direction as well. Wrapped bales of hay were piled up in a side yard courtesy of farms ranging from Vermont to New York and closer, including Burnett's, Balawenders and Ioka. The Galushas had cropped the farm's hundred acres of corn and calls had come in from as far east as Boston.
Perhaps most importantly, backhoes were clearing where the north/south part section of the barn had been. The concrete pad was still in good shape largely because of the protection offered by the felt pads that been under the burned away rubber mats.
"We're getting along but weather is our biggest obstacle right now," Ziemba said, as a cold wind blew through the yard. "We're working on new barns, part of one of the barns has been delivered already."
The Ziembas are working to get up at least a partial shelter and have been speaking with Sheds N Stuff in Cheshire and its Amish suppliers to build a barn on the old location after a Christmas.
"But if we can get one of the sections up first, we can at least get the cows in it. Get them shelter," Ziemba said. "We've got a month window, roughly a month and a half, so hopefully by the first of December we'll have something up or close to being up and we'll go from there."
On the other side of the existing red barn, long poles have been delivered — the first part of a large shell structure from former Gov. Jane Swift's Cobble Hill Farm in Williamstown. The governor's husband, Chuck Hunt, had operated a horse boarding and riding school some years ago before they had moved to Vermont for a time. They had been looking to sell some of the structures and now it's going to good use to help save Broadlawn Farm.
"We're working on the foundation plan for that. We need engineers to design a foundation for it," Ziemba said. "So that's paperwork holding us up right now."
A local structural contractor and relative who has experience is getting the arena delivered and back together again.
"If it does get up, we'll get everybody back and show them where their donations go," he said. "Hopefully."
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Adams Sees No Races So Far
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — With less than a week left before nomination papers are due, there are currently no contested seats.
Only selectman incumbent John Duval has returned papers. Selectman Howard Rosenberg has decided not to seek re-election.
Rosenberg, who was elected in 2021, said he has chosen not to run again to make room for younger candidates.
"I feel strongly, we need younger people running for public office, as the future of our town lies within the younger generation. The world is so fundamentally different today and rapidly changing to become even more so. I believe we need people who are less interested in trying to bring back the past, then in paving the way for a promising future. The younger generation can know that they can stay here and have a voice without having to leave for opportunities elsewhere," he said.
The only person to return papers so far is former member the board Donald Sommer. Sommer served as a selectman from 2007 to 2010 and before that was a member of the School Committee and the Redevelopment Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for selectman in 2019 and again in 2021 but dropped out of before the election.
Incumbent Moderator Myra Wilk and Town Clerk Haley Meczywor have returned papers for their respective positions.
Assessor Paula Wheeler has returned papers and incumbents James Loughman and Eugene Michalenko have returned papers for library trustees.
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On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more
Cheshire Community Association President John Tremblay hopes a recent economic development report can lay out a path forward in which the town can grow.
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Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Bella Kotek Sunday completed a Berkshire County sweep at the State Bowling Championships at Bowlero.
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Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
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