By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Hood-Somervell County Farm Bureau recently donated 450 pounds of ground beef to local food pantries through Texas Farm Bureau’s Farmers Feeding Families program.

The county Farm Bureau supported several organizations with the donation, including Loaves & Fishes, Chieftan & Squaw Club, Papa’s Pantry, Tolar Food Bank and the Methodist Church in Glen Rose.

Kelly Langdon, Hood-Somervell County Farm Bureau president, said the donation reflects the organization’s commitment to serving its community.

“This is what Farm Bureau has always been about,” Langdon said. “It’s always been about supporting your local farmers and ranchers and giving back to the community. It doesn’t matter what the economy is or what food prices are or any of that, there’s always going to be a need.”

Instead of making a traditional monetary donation, the county chose to provide protein, a food item that is often in short supply. After visiting with local food banks, board members learned meat is often the first item to disappear from shelves.

To help meet that need, the group purchased about 450 pounds of ground beef to distribute between the local food organizations.

With beef prices at an all-time high, Langdon said the donation was made possible through a local rancher committed to supporting the effort.

“Being able to buy beef and put it in front of people who really need it makes a difference,” Langdon said. “There’s definitely a big need for it.”

For Langdon and the Hood-Somervell County Farm Bureau board of directors, that need is reason enough to continue.

The organization plans to keep supporting local food banks, one pound at a time, as resources allow.

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