When our furry friends are in need, great communities come together and deliver kindness. In response to the Oak Ridge Fire and the emergency evacuation of livestock, the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) delivered 336 bales of hay on July 3 at the Window Rock Fairgrounds to support displaced animals.
The donation was coordinated with the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture, which has been managing the care and shelter of livestock relocated from fire-threatened areas, including Oak Ridge, Hunter’s Point, St. Michaels and Klagetoh.
The fairgrounds served as the central holding site for evacuated animals for the duration of the Oak Ridge Fire. It held sheep, goats, horses, pigs, dogs, poultry, and cattle.
NAPI employees and the Office of the President’s staff initiated the donation effort internally. A formal letter of support was issued by NAPI’s leadership authorizing the release of feed to assist with fire-related livestock emergencies.
“This is the best thing we can do for Navajo ranchers since we’re in the agriculture field,” said Vincent Cowboy, NAPI Sales and Marketing Manager.
The hay was transported by Hoofprint Express, a Navajo-owned livestock transportation company. Delivery and offloading took place early Thursday morning, and the feed was distributed directly to livestock areas at the fairgrounds.
The Oak Ridge Fire, which started on June 28, has burned through timber and grasslands, prompting multiple community alerts and grazing permit evacuations.
Thank you to the Department of Agriculture for providing supplies to impacted ranchers.
This hay delivery is part of a broader emergency response effort by tribal departments and Navajo-owned enterprises to address fire-related agricultural impacts. Additional support measures may follow as we transition into the recovery phase.
As a community, we must continue to come together to take care of animals in need. This donation showed how the act of feeding displaced livestock reflects the Navajo principle of Hózhó, maintaining balance and harmony with the land, animals, and people. It affirms that livestock are not just property, but living beings that deserve care, especially during displacement.
-Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
