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Centennial

Operation Haylift

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Several Fallon residents volunteered to save an estimated $8 million worth of livestock during Northern Nevada's most brutal winter on record - the 1948-1949 season. Due to nearly constant snowfall between mid-November and mid-February, roads were closed and feed was scarce.

Their 26-day-long efforts, dubbed Operation Haylift, involved dropping hay bales from the air, off of C-82s, cargo aircraft (flying boxcars), down to hungry cattle (about 45,000), sheep (about 165,000) and deer as far away as Ely. The creative undertaking was a success.