MO Corn Growers Help Feed Hungry
Posted: July 12, 2010
Hungry families in the Kansas City region got a sweet donation of fresh produce from Missouri corn growers last week.
Members of the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Malta Bend FFA and Mid-Missouri Energy, a farmer-owned ethanol plant, donated 3,366 pounds of sweet corn for Missouri families in need. The fresh produce was delivered to Harvesters Community Food Network in Kansas City, Missouri to help feed hungry families in the region.
“While sweet corn isn’t something we normally plant in these fields, we realize there are people in our community and in the city facing tough times,” said Billy Thiel, MCGA board member and corn grower from Marshall, Mo. “This sweet corn is one way Missouri corn growers can show that we care about our neighbors and that we are committed to feeding and fueling a growing population.”
In the top photo, Karen Haren, president and CEO of Harvesters (center), accepts the donation of sweet corn from MCGA board members Mike Moreland and Billy Thiel, and members of the Malta Bend FFA Chapter. The food bank estimates today’s donation will provide nearly 2,600 meals to help combat hunger in the region. (Click on the photos for a bigger view)
During a presentation at the ethanol plant, which provided land for the sweet corn plot, Mid-Missouri Energy President Ryland Utlaut (and former National Corn Growers Association president) thanked the Malta Bend FFA Chapter for their help in harvesting the crop. Congressman Ike Skelton and State Representative Joe Aull (pictured at left) also applauded Missouri Corn, the Malta Bend FFA and MME for the donation. The event helped to educate the media and the general public about the importance of corn and ethanol to the Missouri economy, and the difference between sweet corn and field corn grown in the state.
The donated fresh produce will be distributed through Harvesters vast network, resulting in nearly 2,600 meals for hungry families. Serving a 26-county area of northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas, Harvesters provides food and related household products to more than 620 not-for-profit agencies including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.