TREMONTON -A recent initiative introduced as part of the Box Elder County Fair and Golden Spike Rodeo 100-year anniversary is a heartfelt campaign to Help Feed 100 Families using meat acquired at the livestock auction. The initiative was introduced by the Box Elder County Farm Bureau offices and the Fair Celebration Committee.
“We are just getting started,” said North Farm Bureau President Jeff Kent. “We are soliciting money now so we can buy 4-H and FFA animals then get them cut and wrapped for the food pantries within the county. We are trying to solicit families now to gather funds to pay for the animals.”
The cutting and wrapping of the animals will be taken care of by the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation.
“If we can get enough money, we could exceed the 100 families,” he said. “The money would help FHA and FFA kids take home funds they have earned.”
The idea of buying fair animals for food pantries came from last year when the North and South offices of Farm Bureau purchased an animal at the Utah State Fair.
The North and South Box Elder County Farm Bureaus partnered with Utah Farm Bureau’s Miracle of Agriculture Foundation to donate pork to their local community. Over 150 lbs. of meat were donated between the Tremonton Food Bank, the Box Elder Community Food Pantry, and Acts 6 Soup Kitchen.
The Miracle of Agriculture was formed during the pandemic to help those in need and by assisting and giving relief during disasters, emergencies, and temporary hardships especially to those people and communities involved in agriculture, farming and ranching.
“When I took it to the food pantry, they said the patrons had never had sausage,” he said. “Box Elder County is the biggest agricultural sector in the state; we should be able to do better.”
The goal is simple: come together as a community to donate high-quality protein to families in need across Box Elder County. More than 660 families rely on local food pantries in Tremonton and Brigham City each month. Protein, especially fresh meat, is one of the most needed yet hardest-to-source food items. By supporting this initiative, people can make a lasting impact on local families that need assistance.
Participants can attend the Box Elder Junior Livestock Show (BEJL) Auction at the Box Elder County Fair on Saturday, August 23 and purchase an animal and donate it by selecting Miracle of Agriculture as the packer on the BEJL iPad or they can donate cash that will be donated directly to local food pantries to help cover the cost of meat processing. All donations go to the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation, and once the meat is processed, it will be donated directly to local food pantries.
During the 2024 livestock auction at the Box Elder County Fair paid nearly two million dollars to Junior Livestock participants.
For more information contact Jeff Kent at Farm Bureau 435-279-0145 or Lynnette Crockett, Public Information Officer for Box Elder County at lcrockett@boxeldercountyut.gov
“Let’s make this milestone fair year not only a 100-year celebration, but a moment of giving back,” Kent said. “This initiative can promote youth agriculture and strengthen our community.”