Collegiate FB Harvest for All Challenge now underway

Glen Oaks Collegiate Farm Bureau members collected non-perishable food items to donate to their local food pantry. How can your chapter make a difference?

Date Posted: August 29, 2023

Katie Eisenberger, Michigan Farm Bureau

Montcalm Collegiate Farm Bureau was ready to defend its championship title as this year’s Collegiate Harvest for All challenge kicked off Sept. 1.

“We all belong to our community,” said Brian Gardner, advisor for the Montcalm Collegiate Farm Bureau. “Harvest for All helps to combine our love of agriculture with a passion for making our community better by giving back.”

At Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2023 Growing Together Conference, Montcalm received recognition and a check for $250 to present to the Montcalm Community College Food Pantry.

From Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, Collegiate Farm Bureau members are challenged to join the effort to fight hunger by competing against other Collegiate chapters across the state. The chapter that contributes the most volunteer hours, cash and pounds of collected food will be recognized at the state level and take home $250 to distribute to a hunger-relief organization of their choice.

Only donations and volunteer hours contributed by Collegiate Farm Bureau members or collected at a Collegiate Farm Bureau event count toward the chapter’s total.

Collegiate efforts can count toward a county and/or district HFA contest total, though collegiate chapters will need to separate out their specific contribution of donations and volunteer hours during a county event to submit toward the collegiate contest.

Gardner encourages counties to connect with their Collegiate advisor and chapter to maximize the potential impact on the local community, as well as the individual impact on the collegiate members.

“Harvest for All events offer opportunities for our students to learn why it is important to give back to their community and support their neighbors,” he said. “Hopefully these experiences will continue through their personal and professional lives after college.”

Collegiate totals are due by Dec. 15 to Katie Eisenberger, MFB’s High School and Collegiate Programs Specialist. Harvest for All District totals are due to Young Farmer Program Specialist Megan Sprague by Dec. 31.