OHIO (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st are gearing up for the fourth annual Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer event, a statewide initiative that rallies junior fairs in a friendly competition to raise donations for local food banks.

With over a million individuals in Ohio grappling with food insecurity, this event aims to inspire and incentivize local youth to bridge the hunger gap. Since its launch in 2021, the initiative has gained significant momentum, symbolizing the power of local communities uniting to address a pressing issue. In 2023, the event saw overwhelming participation, with 64 county fairs supporting 68 food banks across Ohio. These collective efforts led to an impressive donation of 228,000 pounds of food, marking a nearly 35% increase from 2022.

Melanie Strait-Bok, Farm Credit Mid-America’s senior vice president of agricultural lending in Ohio, expressed her admiration for the young residents driving food donations in their communities. “This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. We’re grateful for the continued support and look forward to another successful year of making a meaningful impact,” she said.

All participating junior fairs receive a $500 prize. The total weight of all donations will be calculated at the end of the fair, with additional prize money awarded to the first, second, and third-place winners. In previous years, junior fairs have used the prizes to attend statewide conferences, invest in new technologies, and in some instances, donate more non-perishable items to the food banks.

Nolan Norman, a Lorain County Junior Fair participant, emphasized the community-driven nature of the initiative. “We’re not the ones giving the food; the people are. It’s all about people giving back to people, and we’re serving as a funnel for that,” he said.

Since 2021, the Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer event in Ohio and Indiana has resulted in more than 500,000 pounds of food donated to food banks, equating to nearly 463,000 meals for individuals and families in need. This milestone underscores the difference communities can make when united under a common purpose.

Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is hosted regionally. Updates from local county fairs, including details on how to donate in your area, will be shared in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit the Farm Credit Mid-America website or call their office. Follow Farm Credit Mid-America on Facebook for updates and behind-the-scenes content.