At the Missouri State Fair, Maddi and Collin Risa of Camden Point chose to make an impact beyond the show ring by donating their market hog through Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Hogs for Hunger, a pillar of the Drive to Feed Kids. Maddi and Collin are members of Platte County 4-H.
Maddi and Collin joined fellow Missouri 4-H and FFA exhibitors in helping provide nutritious pork to families experiencing food insecurity across the state.
This year, 32 exhibitors donated 50 market hogs, providing an estimated 36,125 servings of high-quality pork for Missouri food banks.
“One of the greatest lessons young people learn through livestock projects is the value of caring and giving back,” said Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care. “Hogs for Hunger allows exhibitors to take the hard work they’ve invested all year and turn it into meals for families who need them most. Their generosity reflects the very best of Missouri agriculture.”
The donated pork was processed by Kempf’s Custom Butchering in Sedalia before being distributed through Feeding Missouri’s network of food banks. Processing costs are covered through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Drive to Feed Kids, made possible by ADM, Brownfield Ag News and partners from across Missouri agriculture with support from Feeding Missouri.
“Hogs for Hunger reflects some of Missouri’s best values: hard work, generosity, and a commitment to helping our neighbors,” said Leigh Anne Haun, executive director of Feeding Missouri. “Through our partnership with Missouri Farmers Care, donated livestock provides nutritious protein to families experiencing food insecurity while demonstrating the positive impact Missouri agriculture can have on communities across the state. We’re grateful to the partners who make this program possible.”
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids is made possible through the generous support of Missouri agriculture and business partners, including: ADM, Brownfield Ag News, American Family Insurance, Missouri FQHC Rural Health Network, Show-Me America 250, Nutra-Blend, MFA Incorporated, FCS Financial, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, The Poultry Federation, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Smithfield Foods, Missouri Farm Bureau, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Hunter’s Moon Run N Gun, Home State Health, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, PivotBio, Beck’s Hybrids, Missouri 4-H Foundation, Missouri Pork, and the Missouri State Fair Foundation.
To learn more about Hogs for Hunger or how to participate next year, visit mofarmerscare.com/hogs-for-hunger.