On Saturday, May 30 friends, family and community members came together to support Matt Earnest and his family after an accident that occurred in January. The event held at the Black River Sportsmen’s Club in Withee had crowds in the building and under the tents along with food, beverages, bucket raffles, live auction items, a caricaturist, and music. The event was put together by a committee who wanted to help.
The committee put together 150 bucket raffle items, 16 live auction items, 16 pre-sale raffle items, and 23 firearms to be raffled.
During the event, daughter-in-law Morgan Earnest gave an update on how Matt was doing. Morgan said, “On January 1, Matt’s life changed in an instant when he was involved in a devastating farming accident while doing what he loved most, caring for his farm and family.
“His son, Dillon, found him and quickly got him to Aspirus Medford Hospital, where the medical team stabilized him before transferring him to Wausau. After emergency surgeries and further stabilization, Matt was transferred to UW Hospital in Madison, where his long journey toward recovery began.
“Over the months that followed, Matt spent time in intensive care, rehabilitation facilities, and specialized care units. His injuries were extensive, and the road has been long and challenging. Among his injuries were significant damage to his internal organs, numerous broken bones, severe burns, vision loss, and a traumatic brain injury.
“Yet through every obstacle, Matt has continued to show incredible strength and determination. We are grateful to share that his internal injuries have healed remarkably well, his bones have mended, and despite multiple spinal fractures, his spinal cord remained unharmed. Today, Matt is standing again, and we know he will walk again.
“In May, Matt returned to UW-Madison for additional surgeries, including procedures on his eyes and skin grafting. We are especially thankful to report that sight has returned to his left eye. What a blessing that has been for our family.
“After completing treatment on the burn unit, Matt recently transferred to Lakeview Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, where he continues focused rehabilitation for his traumatic brain injury and physical recovery. Doctors anticipate many more months of therapy and rehabilitation ahead, but if there is one thing we know about Matt, it is that he is not afraid of hard work.
“Throughout this journey, we have witnessed countless blessings, moments of hope, and remarkable healing. We are deeply grateful for the physicians, nurses, therapists, and caregivers who have walked alongside Matt every step of the way. Most of all, we thank God for carrying him through these difficult months and for the progress we continue to see each day.
“On behalf of our entire family, thank you.
“Thank you to our friends, neighbors, and this incredible community for the overwhelming support you have shown us. Thank you to those who volunteered their time at the farm, lent a helping hand without being asked, brought meals, provided gas cards, sent prayers, and made the trip to Madison to visit us.
“Thank you to those who sat with Matt, encouraged him through therapy, shared a conversation, or simply offered a comforting presence when it was needed most. Every act of kindness, no matter how small it may have seemed, has meant more to us than words can express.
“The love, generosity, and support we have received have carried us through some of the hardest days of our lives. We will never be able to fully express our gratitude, but please know that each and every one of you has made a difference.
“Thank you for believing in Matt, for believing in our family, and for walking this road with us.
“God is good, and we remain hopeful for the healing and milestones that still lie ahead.”
The Matt Earnest Benefit Committee also extended their “deepest gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers, donors, sponsors, businesses, organizations, family members, friends, and community supporters who helped make the Matt Earnest Benefit an overwhelming success.” Attendance at the event was estimated to be around 1,500 people throughout the day.
The committee went on to say, “The event served as a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to support one of its own. The generosity shown before, during, and after the benefit was truly remarkable. From financial contributions and raffle donations to volunteer hours, sponsorships, food preparation, setup, cleanup, entertainment, and countless acts of kindness behind the scenes, every contribution played an important role in the success of this event.”
The benefit raised significant funds to help support Matt and his family. He still has a long road to recovery and the funds will help.
The committee added, “The committee would especially like to thank the many businesses, organizations, and individuals who donated raffle items, auction items, services, equipment, food, supplies, facilities, advertising, and financial support. We are also grateful to the volunteers who dedicated countless hours over the past several months planning, organizing, promoting, collecting donations, selling tickets, preparing the venue, and ensuring the event ran smoothly. Special appreciation is extended to our partners, including the Sheldon Rough Riders Snowmobile Club, the Lublin American Legion, Forward Bank, the Sportsmen’s Club, local media partners, and the many community organizations that helped make this event possible.
“Most importantly, we thank every person who attended the benefit, purchased a raffle ticket, bid in an auction, donated, shared a social media post, offered encouragement, said a prayer, or simply showed up to support Matt, Dee, and their family. Your presence reminded them that they are not facing this journey alone.
“As grateful as we are for the funds raised, the greatest gift provided by this benefit was the tremendous show of love, compassion, and support from our communities.”
They also thanked everyone on behalf of Matt, Dee, and their family saying, “We proved that we are truly Tougher Together.”