08/14/2026
Update regarding the fire yesterday:
There really aren’t words big enough to say thank you for what our community has done for us.
Yesterday at 6:07, a group of riders -including Andy -got back from their trail ride and rode right past the shop without seeing any issue.
At 6:11, one of our wonderful boarders mentioned that there was a bit of smoke possibly behind the shop or coming from it.
At 6:11:30, Andy opened the door of the shop, saw flames, and immediately drove the tractor away from the building, saving the tractor and lawn mower.
By 6:13, the smoke cloud was so large it could be seen shadowing across the road.
Two minutes…
In two minutes, the shop was fully engulfed in flames.
One of our boarders called the fire department. Others immediately began evacuating the barns in case the fire spread. Hoses were run. Everything that could be done was done.
Neighbors ran **BAREFOOT** to our aid.
I was in Oswego on my way home. I called everyone I could think of, absolutely terrified being so far away and unable to do anything to help.
By the time I got home about 10 minutes later, there were fire trucks lining the roads on both sides and multiple firefighters actively working to save the indoor riding arena and what remained of the chicken coop.
I was met by so many familiar faces - neighbors who had run to our aid and boarders offering to do absolutely anything they could.
I made a Facebook post in a hurry, just trying to let everyone know that the fire was at our farm, but that the people and animals were okay.
And then we watched it burn.
We watched the firefighters work tirelessly to contain it, demo what they needed to, and finally get the flames put to bed.
Afterward, we spent hours with the most incredible group of people on earth, sifting through the smoldering remnants of the shop and hosing down every single ounce to make sure nothing relit.
I truly cannot describe the lifelong love and gratitude I will have for every single person who came to help us.
I stayed up and watched the shop all night, terrified that somehow it would relight and spread to the barn.
At 6 am, our Amish neighbors started pulling into the driveway one by one, ready to help.
Shortly afterward, person after person arrived …with shovels, garbage bags, water, equipment, and most importantly, a willingness to sacrifice their day to help us.
That means more than I could ever put into words.
The prayers, messages, phone calls, meals, equipment, labor, and support we have felt from everyone surrounding us through this disaster have been overwhelming in the very best way.
Andy and I are absolutely devastated by the loss of our shop.
When Andy and I first met, we had a few misfit tools between us. Over the last six years, we slowly built that collection tool by tool.
Now they're all gone.
The new brakes and rotors Andy bought for the truck a week ago? Gone.
A four-wheeler he inherited from his recently passed father? Gone.
Our chainsaws. W**d eaters. Fencing supplies. Tools. Hay. So many things we use every day.
Gone.
Don't get me wrong ..: we are so, so grateful and blessed that no one was harmed and that none of our animals were harmed.
But I also want to be honest about the reality we are facing.
We had very limited insurance coverage on the building, and unfortunately, even if the policy pays out its maximum amount, it will not come close to covering what it will take to rebuild the shop and replace what was lost. This is a reality many farmers face as the cost of insuring outbuildings, equipment, and agricultural properties continues to rise - and unfortunately, we know our own insurance costs will likely rise after this as well.
We have been able to do some cleanup and remove items outside of the building, but we are waiting for the insurance company to fully review everything before we can do much more. We have another big day of cleanup ahead of us tomorrow, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone who has offered their time, equipment, labor, and support.
This fire also reminded us why we have always taken fire safety so seriously.
We have multiple fire extinguishers clearly labeled and readily available in every barn. Unfortunately, this fire spread so incredibly fast that there was simply no chance of saving the shop.
Moving forward, we will be adding even more safety precautions and additional extinguishers throughout the farm. If there is anything we can learn from this, we want to do everything possible to make sure we are even better prepared should something like this ever happen again - especially anywhere animals could potentially be involved.
We are heartbroken.
But we are also incredibly grateful.
Grateful that the fire did not spread farther, that our animals are safe, that everyone is safe. And more grateful than we could ever express for the people who showed up for us.
We truly would not know what to do without our community.
Kristyn has started a GoFundMe to help us begin rebuilding what was lost. We never imagined we would be in a position to ask for something like this, and asking for help is incredibly humbling.
If you are able to donate, share the fundraiser, or simply keep us in your prayers, please know how deeply grateful we are.
Thank you for showing up for us when we needed you most.
We will rebuild.
It will take time. It will take a lot of work. And it will undoubtedly be one of the hardest things we have ever done.
But after seeing the way this community came together for us, we know we won't be doing it alone.
We will keep building our community. We will keep supporting others. And we will keep creating a place where people can come together, learn, make memories, and hopefully love this farm as much as we do.
Thank you will never be enough. 🧡💙
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DHk3c7T7a/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I am creating this fundraiser for Heather and Andrew, the owners of Burnt Feather F… Kristyn Oestreich needs your support for Help Rebuild Burnt Feather Farms
