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Help Feed Hungry Missourians through ‘Hogs For Hunger’

This release first came from Missouri Farmers Care. See the original online at mofarmerscare.com. Last year, through the Missouri Farmers Care Pork Partnership, Missouri pig farmers and partners donated 611…

This release first came from Missouri Farmers Care. See the original online at mofarmerscare.com.

Last year, through the Missouri Farmers Care Pork Partnership, Missouri pig farmers and partners donated 611 pigs to provide more than 318,000 servings of pork to meet the needs of food-insecure Missourians. The effort is growing this year under a new name — Hogs for Hunger. As part of the expansion, Missouri pig farmers and 4-H and FFA exhibitors statewide are invited to donate pigs to address hunger in their communities.

According to Feeding America, one in five Missouri children are food insecure and face uncertainty as to where their next meal may come from. Through Hogs for Hunger, Missouri pig farmers and 4-H and FFA swine exhibitors have an opportunity to change the lives of neighbors, friends and classmates who don’t have enough to eat.

“For years, Missouri agriculture raised awareness of the need and gathered resources to help close the gap for our neighbors facing food insecurity,” said Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. “Food banks consistently report that protein is the most requested and hardest item to procure. With this partnership, Missouri farmers and youth exhibitors are poised to step up and make an impact.”

Pig farmers and Missouri 4-H and FFA swine exhibitors are invited to process and donate pigs locally this summer through the Hogs for Hunger program. Swine exhibitors can also donate their pig at the Missouri State Fair where up to 50 pigs will be accepted for donation. Donors need to indicate their commitment to donate pigs ahead of time at www.MOFarmerscare.com/drive.

For pigs processed and donated in local communities, farmers or exhibitors need to book processing spots at USDA or state-inspected lockers. Missouri state-inspected lockers can be found at: https://agriculture.mo.gov/animals/health/inspections/officialplants.php.

USDA-inspected lockers can be found at:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/establishments/meat-poultry-and-egg-product-inspection-directory.

To complete the local donation, pig farmers and exhibitors coordinate and deliver pork to the Feeding Missouri food pantry of choice; partnering food pantries can be found at: https://feedingmissouri.org/get-help/your-fb/. Upon delivery, the invoice for processing and the receipt of donation from the food pantry can be submitted to info@mofarmerscare.com. The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation will reimburse farmers and exhibitors for processing costs up to $100 per pig.

In partnership with the Missouri State Fair Foundation, up to 50 pigs will be taken for donation at the Missouri State Fair. Missouri 4-H and FFA members must indicate their willingness to donate their pigs at www.MOFarmersCare.com/drive by July 30. Pigs will be released early on Saturday, Aug. 14, processed at Kempf’s Custom Butchering, and donated to The Foodbank for Central and Northeast Missouri, which serves 44 Missouri counties.

“It is fulfilling to see the heart of Missouri agriculture expressed by Missouri farmers and youth donating much-needed, center-of-the-plate protein to hungry Missourians,” continued McCarty. “These donations will make a difference in the lives of our neighbors, over 1.1 million Missourians facing food insecurity.”

The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Drive to Feed Kids is made possible by presenting sponsors Bayer and Brownfield Ag News, along with Missouri Pork Association, American Family Insurance, Missouri Farm Bureau, FCS Financial, MFA Inc., Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Allen P. & Josephine B. Green Foundation, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Fair, Missouri State Fair Foundation, Missouri FFA Association, Missouri 4-H, benevolent individuals and the contributions of many Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.

In May 2020, the Missouri Pork Association and Missouri Farmers Care united to create the Pork Partnership. All told, Missouri pork producers donated 611 pigs, providing 69,670 pounds of ground pork — more than 318,000 servings of high-quality protein — to feed Missourians in need through Feeding Missouri, the association of Missouri’s six regional food banks.

The Drive to Feed Kids first launched in 2017 with a goal of building collaborative partnerships among non-profit organizations, farmers and agricultural businesses committed to addressing food insecurity in Missouri. To learn more about Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, the Drive to Feed Kids, and Hogs for Hunger visit www.MOFarmersCare.com/drive.

Missouri Soybean Association

The Missouri Soybean Association is a statewide membership organization working to increase the profitability of Missouri soybean farmers through advocacy and education efforts across the state. To learn more, explore mosoy.org.

Press Contacts:

Samantha Turner

sturner@mosoy.org

573.555.1234