Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers Tackle Hunger in Diverse Ways

From field-to-food bank produce donations and venison harvests to meal packing events and Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Charitable Fund matching grants, Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) dedication to combating hunger in the state has earned them recognition by the American Farm Bureau Federation for the past several years.

Most recently, MFB took top honors for being the state to raise the most money – $364,800 – to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach in 2024 through Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program. MFB’s funding was a significant portion of the total $658,606 raised nationwide.

Matching Grants

According to Michigan Young Farmer Committee member Ben Butcher, the Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) matching grants for county Farm Bureaus are key to increasing the effectiveness of local donations.

“That’s what really sets us apart,” he explained, noting that the grants double the impact of the money collected.

Butcher, who grows alfalfa grass hay in the center of Michigan’s mitten, serves as the committee liaison to the ACF.

From Field to Food Bank

Along with monetary donations, Michigan young (and not so young) farmers donate their excess produce directly to food banks. They also participate in food and meal packing events at food banks across the state.

In a win-win for both a local food bank and farmers struggling with the impacts of deer overpopulation, Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau’s first “Doe Derby” resulted in 71 deer being harvested by volunteer hunters, including Farm Bureau members, processed at cost and donated in the form of 82 boxes full of venison burgers to the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes Ministries. And once again, monetary support from the ACF was clutch, allowing Farm Bureau to cover the cost of processing the deer.

Raising the Stakes while Raising Money, Donating Food and Volunteering

A little friendly competition goes a long way in spurring action across the state. Each year, the State Young Farmer Committee oversees a contest to recognize county Farm Bureaus at the district level for their Harvest for All efforts.

The district that contributes the most to fighting hunger, determined by pounds of food, volunteer hours, and dollars, is recognized at the state level and given $1,000 to distribute to hunger relief organizations of their choice.

District 11, which includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle County Farm Bureaus, won for their efforts and recently made a $1,000 donation to Good Samaritan Family Services in their region.

Members of District 11 logged more than 1,000 hours of volunteer time, donated nearly 24,000 pounds of commodities and food, and generously gave more than $106,000 in 2024.

Harvest for All

Now in its 23rd year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, but members of all ages from across the nation contribute to the effort.

In 2024, farm and ranch families from across the nation donated 34.8 million pounds of food and raised $658,606 to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach through the program. Combined, the monetary and food donations totaled the equivalent of 29 million meals.

Criteria for tracking Harvest for All donations includes dollars and pounds of food donated by state and county Farm Bureaus, as well as volunteer hours, reported from the grassroots up as part of the annual campaign.