Members of the Sheldon FFA Chapter joined more than 725 FFA members and agricultural leaders at the Missouri State Fair on Tuesday, August 13, for the Missouri State FFA Food Insecurity Day of Service. The event is held in conjunction with the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids, a year-long effort to stand in the gap for the one in seven Missouri children facing food insecurity.
“Missouri FFA Day of Service is an amazing opportunity for students from across the state to give back to their communities and support Missouri agriculture,” said Missouri FFA State Vice President Mikayla Rojas. “It was such an honor to watch members pack meals with such dedication and pride. This day is a reminder to all that some of our best stories can come from living to serve.”
During the eighth annual Day of Service, FFA members from 88 chapters joined agricultural leaders to pack family-sized portions of single dish meals to help neighbors in need. Together, members packed 193,084 meals for food insecure Missouri families.
"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."
In addition to meals packed by FFA members, 626 pounds of fresh produce were donated from award-winning exhibits at the Missouri FFA building. Through the Missouri Farmers Care Food
Drive $2 Tuesday at the Fair, FFA member volunteers collected food and monetary donations from fairgoers to provide more than 49,840 meals.
“As we see the energy and compassion of Missouri FFA members in action during the FFA Day of Service, we are reminded that the future is bright,” said Ashley McCarty, Missouri Farmers Care Foundation executive director. “Hundreds of students from across the state spend one of their last days of summer in service to Missourians facing hunger. The impact of the Drive to Feed Kids is a reminder that, collectively, individual efforts can make a big impact.”
The meals included rice generously donated by Martin Rice, a generational family farm located in the Missouri bootheel near Bernie in Agri-Ready Designated Stoddard County. The family grows and mills their long-grain and jasmine rice crop to ship worldwide. The fortified beans and rice casserole included pinto beans and textured vegetable protein produced by ADM. The generous partnership of these two companies expands and amplifies the resources used to help fight hunger in Missouri.
“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.”
In addition to the activities at the Missouri State Fair, Missouri FFA members statewide participated in the Drive to Feed Kids earlier this year through the Missouri Farmers Care 4-H and FFA Mini Grant Program. Between January and May, eleven chapters used matching grant resources to provide over 15,000 meals in their communities.
Following the Governor’s Ham Breakfast, over 3,000 meals were packed by elected leaders, farmers and agribusiness members. The Drive culminated Saturday, August 17, with an announcement of the 700,000 meals provided to Feeding Missouri food banks in 2024 through the Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids. The meals were distributed to Missouri’s six regional food banks through Feeding Missouri.
"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.”
The food packing and food drive are held in partnership with Missouri Farmers Care Foundation's Drive to Feed Kids, presented with ADM and Brownfield Ag News. Support of the Missouri Farmers Care’s Drive to Feed Kids was provided by: American Family Insurance, MFA Incorporated, NutraBlend, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, FCS Financial, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Farm Bureau, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Forrest and Charlotte Lucas – founders of Protect the Harvest, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Fair, Missouri 4-H, Missouri State Fair Foundation, Feeding Missouri, and the contributions of many Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.
