FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st kicks off its third annual competition this week to receive donations to help fight off food insecurity in Indiana
Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is an initiative that brings together junior fairs across Indiana in a friendly competition to raise donations for local food banks. All participating junior fairs receive a $500 prize and at the end of the fairs the weight of all the donations is calculated and the top five winners receive additional prize money that in past years has been used to send young people to statewide conferences, invest in new technology and sometimes even donate more food.
Last year this initiative was able to raise 99,000 pounds of food for 53 food banks across Indiana through the 36 county fairs that competed, more than doubling the amount from 2022. With the more than 700,000 individuals facing food insecurity across Indiana this competition helps inspire and incentivize local youth to address the hunger gap. Since 2022 the event has resulted in more than 136,000 pounds of food donated to nearly 80 food banks.
“It’s always inspiring to see young, local residents develop innovative solutions to drive food donations for their community,” said Steve Witges, Farm Credit Mid-America’s senior vice president of agricultural lending in Indiana. “This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. We’re grateful for the continued support and look forward to another successful year of making a meaningful impact.”
Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is hosted at the state level. In the coming weeks Farm Credit Mid-America will be sharing updates on participating county fairs and details on how to donate in your area.
