By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Matagorda County Farm Bureau is proving once again that farmers and ranchers work to feed their communities.

Through the statewide Farmers Feeding Families program, Matagorda County Farm Bureau donated three hogs and two steers, totaling 1,211 pounds of fresh meat, to three local groups: Bay City Women’s Crisis Center, Calvary Baptist Church and Harvest House.

Each organization serves a vital role in addressing hunter within the county. The Women’s Crisis Center cooks about 70 meals daily. Calvary Baptist Church prepares 150 meals each Wednesday, and Harvest House provides food for 300 families every week.

Giving back in this way is part of a long-standing tradition of Matagorda County Farm Bureau helping others.

“We’ve been purchasing animals from the fair every year and donating them to local food pantries,” Troy Owen, secretary-treasurer of Matagorda County Farm Bureau, said. “It’s kind of like a full circle moment. We buy the animals at the fair and support the youth exhibitors in our community. Then, we have the animals processed to distribute the meat to local organizations.”

The entire process stays local, involving the youth who raise the animals, the processors who prepare the meat, and the organizations that share it with families in need.

“To me, that’s what it’s all about,” Owen said. “We’re buying the kids’ show animals, spreading it through the community, and giving it back to who needs it most. It’s farmers feeding families, and that’s what we do as farmers, we feed everybody.”

Owen said donating fresh meat offers a special impact compared to canned goods.

“When you donate a fresh product like pork or beef, you know it’s going to get cooked and eaten,” he said. “It’s not a can of beans that might sit in a pantry. Meat is a precious commodity, and people line up for it because it’s something everyone needs.”

Food insecurity touches one in six Texas households, and donations like this make a significant difference for local food pantries.

For Matagorda County Farm Bureau, giving back came with no hesitation.

“It takes a certain heart to be a farmer. You have to have a lot of faith. Giving comes from that same place,” Owen said. “I’ve never met a farmer who didn’t have that heart to give.”

The Farmers Feeding Families program aims to reduce food insecurity at the local level and encourages county Farm Bureaus to donate protein, volunteer time, make monetary donations and contribute food items to support local organizations and food distribution efforts.

This initiative, which launched earlier this year, is coordinated by TFB’s Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee.

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.