By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

A local youth livestock project is helping put fresh pork on the tables of Lampasas County families.

Lampasas County Farm Bureau purchased a hog from a local youth  and paid to have it processed. The organization then donated 160 pounds of pork to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Food Pantry in Lampasas.

The donation included ground pork, roasts and bacon.

“It is important to give back here in our community,” Stephen Ruzicka, Lampasas County Farm Bureau president, said. “We hope this donation helps families who need it.”

The hog was processed by M&M Custom Slaughter, a local processing facility in Lampasas. Purchasing and processing the hog locally allowed Lampasas County Farm Bureau to support agriculture and community businesses while providing a source of protein to families in need.

St. Mary’s Food Pantry serves about 40 to 50 families during its weekly distribution.

Ruzicka said donating protein gives those families access to food that can be more difficult for food pantries to provide.

“Fresh meat, fruits and vegetables offer something different from the canned and nonperishable items typically available,” he said. “People really appreciate having that option.”

Farmers Feeding Families offers county Farm Bureaus an opportunity to put that value into action by connecting farmers and ranchers with families experiencing food insecurity.

Lampasas County Farm Bureau made a similar donation through the program last year and has also supported local food assistance efforts by collecting nonperishable items at county events.

These efforts reflect a broader responsibility farmers, ranchers and Farm Bureau members have to the communities they call home, Ruzicka said.

“I feel like that’s what we should do. We should give back to our communities,” he said.

The Farmers Feeding Families program, coordinated by Texas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee, encourages county Farm Bureaus to donate livestock, volunteer time, make monetary contributions and provide food items to local organizations.

For more information about the Farmers Feeding Families program, contact your county Farm Bureau or visit texasfarmbureau.org/fff.