LINCOLN, N.B. - The New Brunswick farming community has once again pulled together for the Bourque family in Lincoln.
The family's barn collapsed in January, trapping about 70 cows and killing three. Farmers and community members spent more than five hours rescuing the animals.
Now the same group of volunteers is helping the Bourques rebuild the massive structure.
''George and his family are just great people, so no one hesitated to help when they heard of the family's plight,'' said Mark Bennett, a Lincoln-area resident.
''It's just incredible the number of people who have been to the farm helping out. They all have their own families and work to look after, but they're making time to get this family back on its feet.''
George Bourque, a third-generation farmer, said he would have a hard time getting his family's dairy business back to normal without the assistance of the community.
The old barn wasn't insured, and the estimated loss was more than $100,000.
''Labour costs account for about 40 to 50 per cent of any big job, so it's a big relief to have these guys here to help out,'' Bourque said as six men pounded nails into the new structure behind him.
''At this rate, we should have the barn ready for the cows in a couple weeks.''
Donations from as far away as Virginia have been pouring in since their story was posted on an online blog.
