The Duchesne County Farm Bureau and the Utah Farm Bureau's 'Miracle of Agriculture Foundation' partnered with local energy production and service businesses at the Duchesne County Junior Livestock show to support local agriculture and provide needed food to the county’s food bank.

These local businesses generously donated nearly $11,000 in cash and purchased nine animals from the Junior Livestock show to support food pantries across the Uintah Basin.

“This really is a great opportunity to work with these local businesses and see how they support their communities. From helping youth raise these animals to seeing them stay in the community and feed families in need, it’s a full-circle moment that makes you feel great,” said Clayton Beckstead, Executive Director of the Utah Farm Bureau’s ‘Miracle of Agriculture Foundation. “These businesses paid for these animals at the livestock show and then donated them and additional funds to us so we could get them processed locally. Then we work with them and the County Farm Bureau to connect with the food bank and give them the meat they are in dire need of."

Approximately 1,700 pounds of locally raised and locally processed protein were donated to the Duchesne County Food Bank. The food bank noted that the donated food would feed nearly 300 families for 3-4 months.

“We love that we could be a part of supporting our community. Knowing that we help youth involved in agriculture, and then keep that food in our county to help those who need it, it doesn’t get any better than that!” said Shane Rowley, president of the Duchesne County Farm Bureau. "We want to thank the sponsors that helped make this donation possible, including the Uintah Basin Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute (API), RT Oilfield Services, Integrated Water Management (IWM), Mike Nielson at Farm Bureau Financial Services, Duchesne County Farm Bureau, Gray Rock Services, Central Mountain Hot Oil, Moon Lake Electric, Hofmann Trucking, Finley Resources, and Uinta Wax for their support. In addition, Western AgCredit made a sizable cash contribution to match those from other businesses. It was a great way to see us all come together.”

For more information on how you can participate in the ‘Miracle of Agriculture Foundation’s meat donations, contact Clayton Beckstead at clayton.beckstead@fbfs.com.