Indiana County Fairs to Compete in ‘Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer’ Food Drive Challenge

The Jackson County 4-H Goat Club collected nearly six tons of food during the Jackson County Fair in Brownstown and won the top prize in the 2022 “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food drive challenge. Photo provided by Jason Wynn.

Now that Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, that means that county fair season is fast approaching. That also means the return of a food drive challenge that will put many county fairs against each other in competition with the goal of helping those in need.
“We love a good competitive nature contest to make an impact in their community,” says Mallory Butler, Crop Insurance Account Specialist with Farm Credit Mid-America.
It’s called the “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food drive challenge.
A look inside the “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food collection trailer during the 2022 Jackson County Fair in Brownstown. Photo provided by Jason Wynn.

“Last year we started with 16 counties and what we called our ‘pilot phase’ just to see how we could get off the ground and running,” according to Butler. “This year we were able to open it up statewide in Indiana and we have 36 county fairs that are going to participate with us this year.”
The food drive challenge will pit the county fairs against each other to see which county’s 4-H club can collect the most pounds in food donations for their trailer.
Last year’s winner was the Jackson County 4-H Goat Club (shown above), who collected nearly six tons of food donations during the 2022 Jackson County Fair and received the top prize of $3,000 from Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st.
“Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st both partner with our local 4-H clubs in each county that’s going to take the project and lead it. That county 4-H club then chooses and partners with other clubs in that county to help them ‘Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer’. The county 4-H clubs also choose where they’re going to donate that food in their counties, so it’s really awesome that we’re able to impact our local communities in such a big way,” says Butler.
Once the counties fairs are over, that’s when Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st will give out the top prizes.
“This year we’ve increased our prizes,” says Butler. “First place will receive $5,000, second place will receive $3,000, and third place will receive $2,000. For participating, each county 4-H club has the ability to receive $500 if they collect over 1,000 pounds—if they collect under 1,000 pounds, they will receive $250.”
Butler adds that if your local county fair and 4-H clubs haven’t yet signed up to be a part of the food drive challenge, there is still time.
“Contact your local Farm Credit Mid-America office,” says Butler. “We have representatives in those office that can help give you the materials that you need to get started.”
The following county fairs are participating in the “Feed the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food drive challenge presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st: Bartholomew, Brown, Cass, Clark, Dearborn, Elkhart, Fulton, Gibson, Harrison, Howard, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Koskiusco, Lagrange, Lake, LaPorte, Lawrence, Miami, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Randolph, Spencer, Union, Vanderburgh, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells, Whitley.
Click below to hear C.J. Miller’s radio news report for Hoosier Ag Today.

 
Click below to watch the video celebrating the Jackson County 4-H Goat Club as they collected nearly six tons of food at the 2022 Jackson County Fair to win last year’s “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food drive challenge presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st.

The “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” food collection trailer parked during the 2022 Jackson County Fair in Brownstown. Photo provided by Jason Wynn.

 
 

Recommended Posts

Loading...