The Farmers Feeding Utah campaign held its most recent ‘Miracle Project’ and delivery of food last week in Price and Moab. The event provided direct food donations to more than 600 families in Price and approximately 350 families in Moab. The donations included beef, milk, potatoes, and sweet cherries.

Dozens of volunteers gathered next to the campus of USU Eastern in Price to help pass out food to families in need. The Carbon County Farm Bureau, led by the efforts of Jeff & Jennie Christensen and County President Dorrell Barker, worked alongside USU Extension and longtime Farm Bureau Financial Services agent Richard Hackwell to benefit the community. The giving of food was considered a second miracle of the day, after the early morning rains that came into the area.

Farm Bureau Financial Services agent Richard Hackwell helps assemble food packets in Price.

 

While that event was taking place, representatives with Utah Farm Bureau, the Miracle of Ag Foundation, and USU Extension keep the trucks going and traveled down to Moab to give out food at Grand High School. In addition to staff from the high school, Grand County ranchers Mike & Heather Taylor brought volunteers to give out the food.

"We have received so much positive feedback from our community from the good giveaway event," Mike Taylor said. "We had an amazing turn out and the best group of volunteers. It was a great experience to be a part of."

"We were really happy to reach and serve an area of our state that has been struggling, especially for those families working in the energy and hospitality industries," said Clayton Beckstead, Director of the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation. "The economy for many has rebounded, but there remain several in need. We're happy to be able to give out some great Utah food to these families." 

Farmers Feeding Utah is a campaign of the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that was set up as the charitable arm of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. Additional logistical and in-kind support has come from invaluable partners, including Utah State University (USU) and its Hunger Solutions Institute & Create Better Health program, the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food (UDAF), The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Farm Bureau Financial Services.

 

Dee Taylor looks over the potatoes prior to passing them out in Moab.

 

Donations to the ‘Miracle of Agriculture Foundation’ for the Farmers Feeding Utah project are used to purchase, process, and deliver food to families in need, giving both Utah families and farmers a hand up. 

To date, the Farmers Feeding Utah campaign has provided more than 1.5 million pounds of food, with a retail value of more than $3.4 Million to more than 31,000 Utah residents in the Navajo Nation, Logan, West Salt Lake, Vernal, Provo, Ogden, Kanab, Castle Dale, Orem, Layton, Grantsville, Oakley, Duchesne, Panguitch and smaller community pantries throughout the Wasatch Front. To make a tax-deductible contribution to this project, individuals and businesses can go to FarmersFeedingUtah.org.