ELLENDALE , North Dakota ( CNN ) -- After surviving a near-fatal accident , Richard Olson recalls the doctor telling him , `` You may never walk again . '' Bill Gross says he has put in $ 20,000 and 5,000 hours or more of volunteer time into Farm Rescue . The Ellendale , North Dakota , farmer had gotten caught in the power takeoff shaft of his farming equipment , and his injuries left him unable to plant his 2,500 acres of soybeans and corn . The accident might have meant the end of his family 's farm . Enter Bill Gross and Farm Rescue . Since 2006 , the successful UPS pilot has been , in his `` spare '' time , providing a helping hand and a hearty dose of hope for American family farmers like Olson . Through his nonprofit , Gross , 41 , and volunteers assist farmers who have suffered a major illness , injury or natural disaster . Today , any of those crises can put an end to a farmer 's livelihood . According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , the number of farms in America has decreased by 67 percent since 1910 . Raised on a family farm in North Dakota , Gross says farms have changed since his childhood . `` Years ago , when there was an accident or an injury , neighbors would usually come and help each other , '' recalls Gross . `` Nowadays , there are fewer family farms and fewer children on those farms , and it 's just not as easy for neighbors to help one another anymore . '' Farm Rescue 's goal is to keep farmers afloat by helping with the farm labor through the planting and harvesting seasons . `` We do n't give out money to farmers , this is not a handout or a bailout for any farm family , '' says Gross . `` It 's just to help them through the year so they can continue . '' Olson says he does n't know what he would have done without Farm Rescue 's help . `` I told my wife at the time we probably would have had to rent the land or something . No doubt we would have not been able to do it ourselves , '' said Olson . Olson had sent an application to Farm Rescue and heard from Gross in less than two weeks . Olson 's request was granted , and today he is waiting to harvest the 2,500 acres of soybeans and corn . Since 2006 , Farm Rescue has helped 59 farmers like Olson keep their land . And Gross plans to help many more . Watch Gross and his Farm Rescue team helping a family farm in South Dakota » . `` By the end of the year , I feel fairly confident that the total family farms assisted since we started will be 63 , '' says Gross . `` And our goal for 2009 is to reach a total of 100 farm families . '' Olson says that Farm Rescue 's work supports the spirit of the American farmer . Watch Olson talk about his accident and how Gross helped his farm survive » . `` We 're all proud of what we do . We 're all proud of the independence that we have . And we want to do our own thing , but we ca n't always do our own thing , '' says Olson . `` They ask nothing of us ; it 's done for us . And Bill goes to another farmer that needs help -- and it 's amazing . '' Gross says he has put in $ 20,000 of his own money and 5,000 hours or more of volunteer time into Farm Rescue . To him , it 's all worth it . Watch Gross describe how family farms have changed and why he helps them today » . `` One day I 'm up flying a Boeing 747 and the next day I 'm down here working in the land helping these family farmers in rural America , '' says Gross . `` It 's quite a difference but it brings me a lot of joy to see these families that need the help . `` Most of our cases are success stories where we help the family out and the next year they 're able to do it on their own . ''
Volunteer pilot Bill Gross provides advice and support for American family farmers . He and volunteers help farmers who suffer major illness , injury or natural disaster . Gross ' nonprofit , Farm Aid , has helped 59 farmers since 2006 .