To commemorate the first anniversary of the Creation of its Farmers Feeding Utah Campaign, the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation held its latest ‘Miracle Project’, but with a twist – delivering food to eight cities in Utah on May 19. 
 
These specific projects were made possible in part to generous contributions of food & financial donations by ranchers in Duchesne County, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Utah Petroleum Association, and others. Recipients received a donation of food that included beef, potatoes, apples, milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, and more.
 
The distributions took place in Duchesne, Layton, Grantsville, Orem, Oakley, Richfield, Panguitch, and Marysvale (Piute County). The event gave out a combined 236,000 lbs. of food and fed almost 7,000 families.
 
As the impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic on and families and individuals have lingered, the Farmers Feeding Utah campaign has continued to work to assist those struggling with food insecurity at its next delivery of food. Since its beginning in May 2020, the Farmers Feeding Utah campaign has fed more than 30,000 families, given out 1.7 million pounds of food, with a retail value worth more than $3 million. 

Volunteers help load food at the giveaway in Orem.

 

“A lot has happened in the last year since we started this campaign. There have been tremendous hardships for some families, but there has been some good too,” said Ron Gibson, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “Utah Farm Bureau has been in a fortunate place to be able to reach out and help our farmers, and hungry families in this state. We couldn’t do it without our partners, and we’re looking forward to giving to so many families throughout our state this week.”
 
Additional partners that helped with the most recent project included volunteers from Layton City, several FFA chapters, Farm Bureau Financial insurance agents, the Utah County Health Department, religious youth groups, IFA, and others.
 
“It was beautiful to watch all parts of Duchesne County unite and serve those that needed a little hand up. It was a blessing to all involved,” said Clayton Beckstead, Director of the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation. Beckstead facilitated the delivery of food in Duchesne, working with the Duchesne County Farm Bureau. “As a whole, it was great to see so many communities in Utah come together and help their neighbors. Despite hard times, we’ve seen the best of people come out in these projects.”

 
“It was definitely a community effort in Layton. We had elected officials, city employees, and a host of volunteers team up to reach out and serve those in need,” said Spencer Gibbons, Chief Operating Officer for the Utah Farm Bureau Federation.

Food giveaway at Layton Commons Park.

 

 “We had a great event in Panguitch, and we are grateful to have been able to host one of these events in Garfield County. The boxes of food were well-received,” said Marc Henrie, President of the Garfield County Farm Bureau. “It has been an honor to be a part of something like this.”
 
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), and Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Cars line up for food at the rodeo grounds in Oakley, Summit County.

 

 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 farmers and Utah families a hand up. 
 
To date, the Farmers Feeding Utah campaign has provided more than 1.7 million pounds of food, with a retail value of more than $3.2 million to Utah residents in the Navajo Nation, northern Utah, West Salt Lake, Vernal, Provo, Ogden, Richfield, St. George, Kanab, Castle Dale, Panguitch, Orem, Layton, Duchesne, Oakley, Grantsville, and to smaller community pantries throughout Utah. To make a tax-deductible contribution to this project, individuals and businesses can go to MiracleOfAg.org.