Jackson County Farm Bureau was recently awarded a Farm Bureau Double-Up Donation to help end food insecurity in their community.
The Jackson County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Committee held a cornhole tournament and used the proceeds — totaling $4,538 with the Double-Up Donation — to purchase hogs from local farmers and their 4-H livestock auction. The animals are being processed and donated to local county food banks.
The Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) matched the county’s contribution to this project and assisted with the purchasing and processing fees.
“The Young Farmers provide this opportunity as a way to feed our local communities and support our young agriculturalists,” said Chris Sanford, Jackson County Farm Bureau Young Farmer chair. “Our connection to this cause is supporting young farmers in their agricultural efforts and showing our non-ag community that agriculture is important.”
The ACF Double-Up Donation Program supports county Farm Bureaus’ efforts to end hunger in their communities by providing matching funds to local organizations and programs which represent the ACF mission. County Farm Bureaus initiate the nomination and donation process, and the selected program is approved for an ACF matching donation by a committee of ACF donors based on the need of the organization, population being served and overall goal of the program.
ACF will award more than $180,000 in grants to hunger relief organizations in 2023.
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. Through grant programs like Feeding the Future, Farm Bureau agents, clients and partners provide food and educational programs to Michigan residents struggling with hunger and aid the more than 3,000 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state.