NARRATOR: On the Raney's final day in Alabama as Marty juggles
two big projects, a wood shop expansion and solar kiln,
Misty unloads a replacement for the much needed storm shelter.
So I'm in a full-blown cluster.
I've started a last minute project
and everything just kind of literally blew up in my face.
We can't use that tank, it's full of fuel.
So we brought in a culvert to replace that fuel tank.
And now we're going to dig, set it, hopefully get it in place
and give them at least the beginning of a storm shelter.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
And I will say, this will be the last time that I do this.
This is crazy.
If we get the culvert buried in the ground,
that's a huge win for me and ultimately
a huge win for the homestead.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Who's pumped?
NARRATOR: On the other side of the homestead--
MARTY RANEY: OK, partner.
NARRATOR: --Marty gives Anthony his first look
at the homestead's improved wood drying solution.
This is a warm day.
You can feel the heat?
Yeah.
And this is designed to collect heat.
It's at an angle for optimum angle to the sun.
Yep.
The inside is painted black.
Why?
To capture the heat, hold it in, reflect it inside.
Amen.
You can see these two fans up here.
These two fans are solar powered,
so it's a constant movement of air.
OK?
It's huge.
Getting the dry time down is a major game changer.
I'm able to fulfill the promises I have to people.
So many times I've told people that I'll
be able to do something and then ended up
having to break that promise.
You lose clients that way.
You tend to lose friends.
It's a lot more deeper than just wood and making furniture.
What we're looking for is between 100 and 130.
Right now we're at 116 degrees.
We'll lay this right here.
That will be the temperature of your wood.
Going this route of a solar kiln
honestly never crossed my mind.
For some reason in my mind, I had to go big.
I had to go more of an industrial way.
And it absolutely don't have to be that way.
NARRATOR: One week ago, Anthony's most valuable asset,
his logs, were left to rot.
Now, the homestead is equipped with a solar powered kiln
ready to dry Anthony's lumber in a fraction of the time,
increasing his potential to mill wood quicker,
make money faster and keep his homesteading dream alive.
MARTY RANEY: You're the proud owner of a sawmill.
You're the very proud owner of a solar kill.
And now, you're the proud owner of a pretty significant
addition to your shop.
ANTHONY SIEFKER: Absolutely.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MARTY RANEY: All right.
You open that door.
ANTHONY SIEFKER: [LAUGHS]
Can you use it?
Absolutely use that.
MARTY RANEY: It means a lot to me to hear
you say that you can use this.
Absolutely I can use this.
Because I don't have this.
I'd love to have this.
ANTHONY SIEFKER: Having in the shop, it keeps me here.
I'm able to actually pursue the dreams.
I'll be able to be here 100% of the time
and that's the major goal.
NARRATOR: One week ago, Anthony's
homesteading legacy was dying when he was spread too thin.
Now, with the woodshop edition built from lumber milled
on the property, Anthony has enough space
to pursue his valuable craft without leaving the homestead.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I feel like I've hit the lottery, if anything.
You've hit the homestead lottery for sure.
ANTHONY SIEFKER: Absolutely.
NARRATOR: On the other end of the homestead,
Misty puts the finishing touches on the replacement storm
shelter.
MISTY BILODEAU: So we brought in a culvert
to replace that fuel tank.
It is crazy the amount of work that got done here.
But for me, it was all about let's keep this family safe.
What do you think, Dad?
Give it some tamping.
You're done.
All right, looks good.
TAMRA SIEFKER: Misty was really bound and determined
to get us a storm shelter after I told
her the scary things that we went through
with the tornadoes in Alabama.
We have to be alive in order to keep this homestead going.
So for her to want to do something
to make sure that we're safe, it means the world to me.
MISTY BILODEAU: Come on in, everybody.
Looks a lot safer than that fuel tank.
TAMRA SIEFKER: Yeah.
MISTY BILODEAU: How many people can we get in here?
Hi, Anna Rose.
Hi.
What are we doing?
Would you rather be in the house or would you rather be in here?
In here.
Right here.
Oh, absolutely in here.
MISTY BILODEAU: The shelter obviously needs the door,
but based off of what I seen this week,
fully confident Anthony and Tamra can put one on.
All I cared about was getting the shelter and buried.
I'm now at a place where I have the peace of mind
to leave here fully confident that this family is
going to be safe.
So it's a real push.
We all experienced it together to make it happen.
I wasn't leaving until you guys had a safe place to go.
Yeah.
You got precious cargo in your arms right there.
This is a little bit of a security system, yeah?
Yeah.
Misty being persistent on getting us a storm shelter,
it really does mean the world because it's
only a few times a year.
That few times a year, you can't take those chances.
I think it definitely needs some work,
but it's a really good start.
And if a tornado hit tomorrow, you would live.
ANTHONY SIEFKER: The Raney's do absolutely care
about our well-being.
They go the extra mile.
They really do.
On that note, we have to drive to another homestead.
We got to go now.
Yeah.
TAMRA SIEFKER: I need to crawl out.
I can't. ANTHONY SIEFKER: Come on out.
I can't. I can't get up.
I've fallen and I can't get up.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
There's been a transformation on this homestead
from a little bit of discouragement to optimism.
Yes.
MARTY: Right?
Being a homesteader, it's not easy work.
It takes a certain character to be able to live this lifestyle.
And I can only hope that my children, my grandchildren
will understand the hard work that was put into it.
Y'all definitely helped the dream stay alive.
Good words.
Thank you.
Just a few days you can see a change him,
the excitement in his eyes.
I'm excited to see what we can do together now.
It's not just going to be him.
With me learning these new skills, I can help Anthony.
I feel like that's going to help us as a couple.
Now I'm going to be right there with him.
The fact that we are going to be
a part of your journey, your family's long, rich history,
I'm really proud of that.
Don't you make me cry again.
And I thank you--
I thank you guys.
I'm a cry baby.
Thanks a lot for letting us be a part of your guys' legacy.
Oh, my gosh.
We're staying.
We are here to stay.
We're not going anywhere.
[LAUGHS]
Everything I remember that was good in my life
happened on this farm.
I'm really encouraged about the future of this homestead.
The Raney's have had a major influence
in Anthony's decision.
His eyes have been opened up here
what the possibilities are.
MARTY: Am I going to look back and worry
about Anthony and Tamra?
Not at all.
Say "bye."
Bye.
Roll Tide.
[MUSIC PLAYING]