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Lincoln County Farm Bureau YF&R
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Lincoln County Farm Bureau YF&R Do Well in First "Harvest for All" Project
Press Release, June 30, 2009
 Lincoln County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) and friends volunteered 68 hours to conduct the first ever Nevada "Harvest For All" Food Drive June 25-27, gathering 912 pounds of non-perishable foods. Thirty-six dollars cash was given which purchased non-perishable commodities counted in the food pounds. A lamb from the Clark County Fair was also supplied earlier this year bringing the total pounds of food to 1,007. These donations will give a helping hand to local Lincoln County families through the "Lord's Pantry" food bank at the Caliente Community Methodist Church.
Each of the three days of the project shoppers were provided a short list of Pantry needs which included rice, pasta, cereal, dried beans, canned goods of many varieties and dry milk. Several persons read about the drive in the newspaper and dropped off additional offerings from home.
Farm Bureau volunteers manning the drive Thursday at the Pioche Miner's Mercantile were Lee, Sharee, Jesse, Derek, Rachel, Dann and John Mathews and County Farm Bureau President Bevan Lister. Volunteers at the Panaca Market on Friday were Lee Mathews and Jamie Perkins. Caliente Great Basin Market volunteers on Saturday were Lee, Jesse and Derek Mathews.
Food bank needs across Nevada have increased up to four fold this spring and summer due to both the current economic situation and having children at home for vacation who are generally eligible for two federally sponsored meals at school.
"America's farmers and ranchers are committed to hunger relief," said Lee Mathews, County Farm Bureau VP and YF&R Committee member. "Young farmers and ranchers know they are blessed to earn a living providing food, fuel and fiber to our nation and around the world. As Farm Bureau members we are dedicated to helping those who need a hand up. It is also an important aspect of caring for local families and neighbors by 'feeding the hungry' and 'Harvest For All' is a great way to share our bounty."
Lee first heard about the national "Harvest For All" program while attending the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) National Leadership Conference at Sacramento, CA in February 2009 and has been enthusiastic about starting a program in Nevada ever since. It took some time to gather information, make contacts with "Feeding America" affiliates, learn the program guidelines and make plans and prepare materials for the first campaign, but once organized and started the project went well.
"Harvest For All" was originally begun in June 2002 by AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers and has evolved to include activities across the country organized by state and county Farm Bureaus in connection with "Feeding America" affiliates. Nationally, over the past six years, Farm Bureau families have gathered nearly 16 million pounds of food, logged more than 30,000 volunteer hours and raised more than $778,000 in donations. All in all, the food and monetary donations amount to nearly 18 million meals. Sygenta and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting have been involved at various times.
Additionally, AFBF and Feeding America's predecessor (America's Second Harvest) have worked together on federal legislation that allows producers to take a tax deduction on donated commodities.
For More Information on How to Participate: Contact Lee Mathews:     (775) 9... .
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