Agricultural News
Fresh Ground Pork Donated by Oklahoma 4-H and FFA Members Arriving at Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Wed, 13 Apr 2011 6:13:05 CDT
The Food Drive that was promoted by the Diamond Hats group at the 2011 Oklahoma Youth Expo became more than just canned beans and corn- as the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma received this week several hundred packages of fresh ground pork produced by some of the exhibitors of the Youth Expo. A total of nine young people from three Oklahoma communities donated their show animals to be processed into pound and a half ground pork packages as a part of the Food Drive that donated over 700 pounds of dry goods as well. When all of the meat that was being processed arrives at the Regional Food Bank- they will have received 1,500 pounds of fresh pork from these 4-H and FFA youth.
The idea originated with a generous young lady from Seiling. For the past couple of years, Chelsie Livingston of the Seiling FFA Chapter has donated her show pig to the local food pantry if it did not qualify for any premium sales. When the Seiling Chapter Advisor Ben Fischer heard that the Diamond Hats had organized a food drive in cooperation with the office of Governor Mary Fallin for those coming to the Oklahoma Youth Expo, their chapter decided they would try to find corporate sponsors to pay for the processing and donate six pigs from the Seiling FFA to the Food Drive.
Once Chelsie arrived at this year's Youth Expo- word got around about the Seiling FFA gift- we talked with Chelsie about her efforts- click here to read that story and listen to our conversation with her back in March. and two additional chapters had young people stepping up to donate their pigs as well.
Processing money was found as four organizations stepped up to help. The Board of Directors of the American Farmers and Ranchers dug into their own pockets and paid for the processing of six animals, while the Bank of Western Oklahoma, Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Pork Council each paid for the processing of one animal each.
Diamond Hat leaders promise that this effort will be expanded in 2012, as they look for ways to encourage the ag youth of Oklahoma to be able to help feed Oklahoma families by helping the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
The young people involved in the pork gift to the Food Bank included the following:
Seiling- Chelsie Livingston, Kaci Livingston, Ryan Sanders, Caleb Gilchrist, Miranda Gilchrist, Tanner bensch and Kristin Combs. (Ben Fischer, Ag Ed Teacher)
Thomas- Kylie Bryen (Ag Ed Instructors- Justin Kliewer and Heath Maddox)
El Reno- Regan Herren (Ag Ed Instructor- Richard Herren)
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to our audio report from the Regional Food Bank on Monday- with comments from Seiling FFA President Chelsie Livingston, Marilyn Harrel of the Diamond Hats and Terry Detrick of AFR.
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