Deer donation event kicks off partnership with Agent Charitable Fund, MFB Family of Companies and Sportsmen Against Hunger

"The deer overpopulation increase is causing significant problems for farmers, as they face more costly crop damage,” said MFB Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch. “Through this partnership, harvesting more deer not only helps alleviate the strain on agriculture, but also provides valuable resources to people in need.” Image credit: MDNR

Date Posted: October 1, 2024

Michigan Farm Bureau

The Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) and the Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies (MFBFoC) are excited to work alongside the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Jay’s Sporting Goods to support an MDNR Sportsmen Against Hunger deer donation event this fall. The event will be hosted at the Jay’s Sporting Goods Clare location on November 23 and 24.

“The deer overpopulation increase is causing significant problems for farmers, as they face more costly crop damage,” said MFB Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch. “Through this partnership, harvesting more deer not only helps alleviate the strain on agriculture, but also provides valuable resources to people in need.”

Jay’s Sporting Goods and the MDNR have been working together for many years to facilitate deer donation drives at the Clare location. Due to popular demand, Jay’s will be facilitating a second deer donation event this fall to provide an opportunity for hunters to fill their deer and/or antlerless tags and donate deer to feed the hungry. Jay’s, ACF and the MFBFoC are conducting fundraising campaigns to help cover processing costs for this second event.

“This is a win-win opportunity to both reduce food insecurity and tackle the deer overpopulation issue many of our members are facing,” said ACF Chair Bobby Barrigar of Alpena. “In partnership with our Family of Companies, we are excited to support the great work that the MDNR and Jay’s are doing to help meet these needs.”

The ACF, whose mission is to end hunger in Michigan, is a donor-designated fund administered through the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture. The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s board of directors, positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming.

Operating at the intersection of market and moral missions, the MFBFoC has a powerful vision: a Michigan where no child goes to bed hungry. MFBFoC is reinvesting their proceeds back into their local communities and identifying effective programs, policies and practices designed to directly reduce childhood hunger.