By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Families in need across Brown County are getting a helping hand from local farmers and ranchers.

Brown County Farm Bureau recently donated 660 pounds of pork to the Good Samaritan Ministries, a local food bank that feeds about 1,500 families in Brown County.

Brown County Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Larry and ruth Schwartz Memorial Pig Project, purchased 25 pigs from Brown County youth exhibitors and had the pigs processed locally.

The donation was part of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) new Farmers Feeding Families initiative, which encourages county Farm Bureaus to fight food insecurity locally through protein donations, food drives, volunteer service and monetary contributions. “It’s important to help our neighbors,” Donald Krause, Brown County Farm Bureau secretary-treasurer, said. “ “Good Samaritan has been growing over the last four years, and they are always in need of help when feeding families.”

Farmers Feeding Families transforms the generosity of farmers and ranchers into direct support for individuals and families through partnerships with food banks  and other community aid organizations.

It also allows Farm Bureau members the opportunity to cultivate an understanding of agriculturewithin the community.

“Helping the community helps provides information to families that may not know about farming and agriculture,” Krause said.

Food insecurity impacts one in six households in Texas. Local contributions like Brown County Farm Bureau’s help address those needs close to home.

“This helps to make sure that no kid, or anyone, goes hungry,” Evelyn Hughes, Brown County Farm Bureau member, said. “Good Samaritan helps with the goal of putting food on people’s plates.”

The Farmers Feeding Families program is coordinated by TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee.

County Farm Bureaus can donate cattle, hogs, sheep, goats or poultry to local organizations, and TFB will cover up to $1,000 of the processing costs.

Farm Bureau members can also log volunteer hours spent helping with food collection, distribution or preparation.

Monetary donations and non-perishable food contributions also qualify under the program.

For more information and to learn how to donate, contact your county Farm Bureau or visit texasfarmbureau.org/fff.