Hunger in rural communities seems like a farfetched idea to some, but the reality is that food deserts happen even in America’s heartlands, and inflation continues to hit rural America hard.
Harvest for All helps address hunger in rural America by harnessing the collaborative power of grassroots farmer and rancher members, county Farm Bureaus, state Farm Bureaus, and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
This month, AFBF’s Harvest for All program earned a Power of Associations Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives, recognizing the initiative’s success.
Members involved in the organization’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program take the lead in planning, coordinating, and executing the initiative, often with involvement from local community leaders and supporters.
In 2022, Harvest for All participants donated 25.3 million pounds of food and $1 million to local food banks, contributing 13,827 volunteer hours. Historical totals for the program launched 22 years ago, are impressive — 408.5 million pounds of food, $11 million, and 229,207 volunteer hours.
“Congratulations to Farm Bureau for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent and on society at large,” said ASAE president and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday mission to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight this award-winning initiative.”
AFBF is one of six recipients of ASAE’s top-tier Summit Award and the only association recognized with a focus on agriculture.
“The spirit of Farm Bureau has always been one of working together and giving back,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’re proud of our collective boots-on-the-ground efforts across Farm Bureau and the leadership of our Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee to work to end hunger in our rural communities.”
