Missouri FFA and 4-H members help pack 711K meals at fair

Missouri agricultural leaders, FFA and 4-H members, elected officials, and partners collaborated at the Missouri State Fair to capstone the 2024 Drive to Feed Kids. With food insecurity affecting one in seven Missouri children, Missouri agriculture has banded together to take action to help change this reality through the Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids.

In 2024, the effort to stand in the gap for those facing hunger in our state raised 711,000 meals. Over the past eight years, this collaborative partnership has raised resources to provide over thirteen million meals for children and families across the state.

“Farmers and ranchers work 365 days a year to responsibly and sustainably produce food, feed, and fuel from our farms and ranches,” said Ashley McCarty, MFCF executive director. “The Drive to Feed Kids addresses the gaps where that abundance doesn’t reach our neighbors’ dinner tables. We are honored to again partner with Missouri agriculture, agribusinesses, elected leaders, and Feeding Missouri to make a positive impact in the lives of our neighbors facing hunger.”

These activities were the capstone of the year-long effort to meet the needs of food-insecure Missourians. Missouri’s agricultural youth programs once again partnered with the Drive to raise meals in communities across the state. Missouri 4-H members raised resources to provide 291,735 meals during the 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign this spring.

During Missouri FFA Day of Service on Aug. 13, hundreds of Missouri FFA Association members and agricultural leaders came together at the Missouri State Fair to pack 193,000 family meals. Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters statewide expanded their local impact by 21,709 meals through matching mini-grants provided by Missouri Farmers Care Foundation.

“Seeing these FFA members talking, laughing and singing as they pack meals for those in need brings a sense of hope and optimism about the future,” said Cyndi Young, director of Brownfield and Learfield Ag. “It is inspiring to see this next generation engaged, compassionate, and willing to make a difference not only during Missouri FFA Day of Service, but when there is need in their local communities.”

Food banks consistently report that protein is the most requested item for families. Through the partnership’s Hogs for Hunger initiative, swine exhibitors and producers were invited to commit pigs to feed neighbors in need. Through the generosity of exhibitors and producers, 16,484 servings of pork were donated this year. Drive to Feed Kids donations are distributed statewide through Feeding Missouri, the association of Missouri’s six regional food banks.

“Our six food banks are working tirelessly to ensure that no child in our state needs to wonder where their next meal will come from,” says Heather Hargrove, Executive Director of Feeding Missouri. “However, rising food prices are making it harder for families to put food on the table, and more neighbors are turning to the more than 1,200 community and faith-based programs supported by the food banks. To ensure our network can continue providing hunger relief to these programs, our food banks rely on partnerships and initiatives like Missouri Farmers Care and the Drive to Feed Kids to keep our shelves stocked and ensure no child has to go to bed hungry in Missouri.”

Fairgoers participated in the Missouri Farmers Care $2 Tuesday at the Missouri State Fair by bringing non-perishable food items and monetary donations. Missouri FFA donated fresh produce from FFA student projects on display at the fair. Missouri’s elected and agricultural leaders packed meal boxes on Governor’s, Legislators’ and Judges’ Day. Through all these efforts, resources for 53,366 meals were donated.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation to support the Drive to Feed Kids and to provide nutritious meals to those who are in need,” said Richard Ramthun, Commercial Manager for ADM. “This effort is a testament to our volunteers and all the organizations involved who are enthusiastic about their communities. It’s an amazing feat to see how this effort has grown throughout the years, and to see multiple ADM divisions and groups join with Missouri High School FFA members for the common purpose of alleviating childhood hunger. We are proud to be among the groups committed to standing in the gap of food insecurity.”