Hogs for Hunger

A Time of Need

Hogs for Hunger began in 2020, answering an all-time high call for food assistance. Pork producers were facing processing backlogs and neighbors were facing hunger. Missouri Farmers Care brought partners together to provide processing and millions of servings of pork to neighbors in need. Today, there are three ways to be involved in Hogs For Hunger – a local donation, a donation at the Missouri State Fair, or through the Northeast Missouri Pilot Program.

Our Impact

Servings Donated

Our Donation Process

Pork producers and Missouri 4-H and FFA swine exhibitors can donate pigs or pork locally. Through this option, farmers or exhibitors book processing spots at USDA or state-inspected lockers, coordinate and deliver the pork to the Feeding Missouri food pantry of choice.

Upon delivery, the invoice for processing and the receipt of donation from the food pantry can be submitted to the commitment form.

The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation will reimburse farmers and exhibitors $1.75 per pound for processing costs up to $225 per hog. Indicate the number of pounds you intend to give in the commitment letter below.

Fill out and submit a commitment form.
Book a processing appointment at your selected processing facility, if you haven’t already. Must be a USDA or state- inspected processing facility.
Contact your local food pantry of choice or regional food bank to determine if they are accepting meat donations and arrange the donation drop-off.
Get hog(s) processed and get an invoice of processing from your facility.
Coordinate pork delivery to the selected local food pantry of choice.
Collect a receipt of donation from the food pantry.
Submit receipt of donation, invoice for processing, name, and mailing address for reimbursement to info@mofarmerscare.com and Missouri Farmers Care Foundation will reimburse farmers and exhibitors $1.75 per pound for processing costs up to $225 per donation.

Hogs For Hunger accepts up to 50 4-H and FFA barrows at the Missouri State Fair. Missouri 4-H and FFA exhibitors receive a $200 stipend per head committed to the Hogs for Hunger campaign. Payment will be issued within two weeks of donation.

Pigs will be loaded following the open show on Saturday, August 15, processed at Kempf’s Custom Butchering, and donated to Feeding Missouri, a coalition of Missouri food banks working to provide hunger relief in every county. All processing costs are covered by the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation and Drive To Feed Kids partners.

Fill out and submit a commitment form by August 1. Up to 50 pigs can be accepted.

All processing costs will be covered by the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation and partners. Payment will be issued within 1-2 weeks after the Missouri State Fair.

A new collaborative project of Hogs for Hunger, this pilot program is set to tackle food insecurity in Northeast Missouri by supplying area food pantries with locally produced pork. This innovative program is a partnership between Missouri Farmers Care, the Missouri Pork Association, and United Way of the Mark Twain Area.

By partnering with local hog producers, integrators, and contract growers, we intend to help route hogs that would be euthanized or sold as culls to local processors for processing and donation to local pantries.

Please reach out to Denise Damron at director@unitedwaymta.org.

Download the Meat Producer Letter

Hear It From The Source

“I want to do my part as an exhibitor and pork producer to give back to those who need it.”
Clayton Jennings
“Donating my hog was a small act that I could do and will have a big impact.”
Lawson Ogle
“I donated my hog to help feed those who are hungry in Missouri.”
Avery Ogle
“As a farmer, raising one more animal to help feed neighbors in need is a simple way to invest in your community.”
Lucas Alexander

FAQ’s

For pigs processed and donated in local communities, processing spots are to be booked by exhibitors at USDA or state-inspected lockers.

Missouri State-Inspected Lockers USDA-Inspected Lockers

To complete the local donation, pig farmers and exhibitors should coordinate and deliver pork to the Feeding Missouri food bank or food pantry of your choice.

Missouri Food Bank Locations

To find partnering food pantries in your community, please reach out to your regional food bank.

All pigs contributed at the Missouri State Fair will be processed at Kempf’s Custom Butchering and donated to Feeding Missouri, a coalition of Missouri food banks working to provide hunger relief in every county.

If you are donating pork locally, your donation may be considered tax-deductible. You will need a receipt from your processor and a receipt from the food pantry indicating how many pounds of pork you donated and the fair market value of that pork. If you choose to have the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation reimburse you for processing costs, you have to deduct that reimbursement from the amount you claim as a tax deduction. Please check with your tax professional for advice on claiming this donation as a tax deduction.

If you are contributing a whole pig at the Missouri State Fair, you may be able to deduct the difference between the amount Missouri Farmers Care compensated you and the fair market value of the pig. Please check with your tax professional for advice on claiming this donation as a tax deduction.