(Posted July 7, 2023)
Farm Credit Mid-America, Rural 1st, and the Madison County Junior Fair Board have partnered to raise food donations to benefit local food pantries as part of a statewide food drive contest. Now in its third year, “Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer” is a friendly competition in which cash prizes go to the participating junior fairs that collect the most non-perishable food donations.
“Last year, we were grateful to place third in our region, but this year, we want to be first,” said Tina Seaburn, Madison County’s Junior Fair Board coordinator and Senior Fair Board secretary. “We are very excited to be offered this opportunity again.”
Madison County received $1,500 for their third-place finish in 2022. Prizes are $5,000 for first place, $3,500 for second place, and $1,500 for third place. Additionally, every junior fair that enters receives $500 just for participating. All prize money goes back into the Junior Fair to help pay for awards and other forms of youth exhibitor support.
Anyone is welcome to drop off food donations at a trailer that will be parked near the Junior Fair Office on the Madison County Fairgrounds throughout fair week.
“We want to get the public involved,” Seaburn said.
Additionally, the Junior Fair Board plans to promote its own internal competition, challenging youths associated with the different animal species barns and project areas to outdo each other on food donations.
Regional winners are determined by the overall weight of the food donations they collect. Weigh-in day for Madison County is July 16, the day after the fair closes.
“Last year, over 50 junior fairs across Ohio collected nearly 170,000 pounds of food that went on to benefit 74 local food banks. We’re very excited to see what the growth and impact will look like as the contest enters its third year this summer,” said Rudi Pitzer-Perry, a regional vice president of agricultural lending for Farm Credit Mid-America in Ohio.
“The most rewarding part of the contest is seeing the connection that kids are making with local food banks,” said Amanda Lovedahl, an associate financial officer for Farm Credit Mid-America and one of the team members who leads the Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer initiative.
The Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer contest is being hosted on a regional basis. To learn about which counties are participating in 2023, reach out to Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st at (614) 349-3782.
The 2023 Madison County Fair runs July 8-15. For a schedule of events, visit Madison County Fair.
