A California farmer uses his art to help a fellow farmer pay for new wells for his farm. The well onWill Scott’s Fresno farm ran dry in 2015. Paul Buxman knew of Scott because of Scott’s work teaching kids in West Fresno how to farm, and he wanted to help his fellow farmer. When Buxman contacted Scott offering to help, Scott saw it as divine intervention. "He said, 'I had given up and I consider your phone call today a voice of God.'" Buxman recalls. And so Buxman started his “Drill 4 Will” fundraiser to help Scott pay for a new well.
During the off-season, Buxman is a prolific and talented painter of farm landscapes. "Paul is an amazing artist," Scott says. To raise money for Scott’s wells, Buxman sold prints of his art — lots of prints. He was able to raise $30-thousand, enough to fund a new ag and domestic well system on Scott’s 40-acre farm. Scott now has enough water to grow even more crops than before.
Scott is grateful for Buxman and everyone who supported the fundraiser. "I haven't had a chance to say publicly how I appreciate the people who participated," he says. "You really lifted me up." And now his water shortages won’t be a hindrance anymore, which is definitely a good thing, but does come with one downside. "Well this year, I guess I have to prove myself," he says. "I'm either a farmer or I'm just out here as a hobby."
Source:ACB 30
Photo: Getty Images