Tarkio FFA: Multiplying Impact From Classroom To Community
Tarkio FFA chapter is proud to be a first-time recipient of a Drive to Feed Kids grant, awarded by Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. These young agriculturalists multiplied the impact of their food security project from the classroom all the way to their community.
It Started with a Pig
Senior member and Tarkio FFA president Quin Staten, raises a show pig each year as a part of his Supervised Agriculture Experience. At the conclusion of last year’s show season, he sold his project hog to his FFA chapter.
“As a showman I expect each hog project to end. But this year, my project went beyond pork to purpose,” Quin shares. “My hog will help others, too, which made it worth all the work I put into it. And that’s pretty cool.”
A local butcher harvested Quin’s hog and delivered it to the new food science lab at the Tarkio Agriculture Education department.
Next, Career Experience
Mr. Dustin Lambertsen, Tarkio agriculture educator and FFA Advisor, is excited about the department’s new food science lab and the skills and experiences his agriculture students will have in this new learning space.
“We have equipment for students to learn how to grind, package, air seal, and label meats. This facility is an excellent way for students to gain more career readiness,” Dustin says.
Ten food science students prepared, packaged, and labeled 70 pounds of pork.
Meeting the Goal
Many local food pantries, like Tarkio Food Pantry, are sustained by donations alone. For these pantries, procuring enough center-of-the-plate proteins is a monthly stressor and challenge. But Tarkio FFA members had a goal: to donate 100 pounds of pork to their local food pantry.
Tarkio FFA used their Drive to Feed Kids grant to purchase the balance of protein to meet their goal. To meet the grant matching requirement, they utilized chapter funds to purchase canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, and rice. These foods were chosen from the food pantry’s ‘wish list’ of most needed items.
“Shopping for the donation was done over Christmas break. We found out the local market had a giant sale, which doubled the amount of food we were able to purchase and add to our donation,” Dustin recalls.
Student Perspective & Community Impact
“I learned how much our chapter can impact families and the lives around us,” shares sophomore Taya Windham, chapter secretary. “This project proved to me that we can do good things locally.”
The Tarkio FFA’s donation made a difference in the lives of 60 families: a large number in their small rural community!
“This project served as a realization to our chapter members of how many families struggle with food insecurity in our local area,” says Quin.
“It’s a good thing to do for our community because they always support us,” adds sophomore Macy Stepp, chapter historian.
Another ten students positively impacted the Tarkio community through the completion of this food security project. This well-planned, consumer-savvy donation supplied 25% of the pantry’s needs for a month.
Full Circle Finish
To round out the “living to serve” nature of their project, Tarkio FFA chapter participated in the January family box distribution at Tarkio Food Pantry. The chapter’s student leaders plan to repeat the project in the future.
Tarkio FFA’s project truly reflects the spirit that Drive to Feed Kids grants aim to amplify. Grants encourage young leaders to recognize needs and enable them to multiply their own learning and impact at the local level.
What is the Drive to Feed Kids?The Drive to Feed Kids is More than Just a Food Drive. Launched in 2017, the Drive to Feed Kids builds collaborative partnerships among nonprofits, farmers, and agribusinesses committed to addressing food insecurity across the state. To learn more, including how to get involved in 2026, visit https://mofarmerscare.com/drive/. 2025 Drive to Feed Kids By the Numbers
The 2025 Drive to Feed Kids provided over 720,000 meals to Missourian’s facing food insecurity. Missouri 4-H members provided 271,000 meals during the 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign this spring. Missouri FFA members packed more than 177,000 family meals. 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, and collegiate groups statewide expanded their local impact by providing 97,000 meals through matching grants. Through the Hogs for Hunger initiative, swine exhibitors and producers generously committed enough pork to provide 27,500 servings this year. Fairgoers also contributed to the effort through $2 Tuesday at the Fair, donating non-perishable food and funds equivalent to 49,000 meals. Over nine years, the Drive has provided more than 13.7 million meals to children and families across Missouri. Drive to Feed Kids Partners
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids is presented in partnership with ADM and Brownfield Ag News. Partners across Missouri agriculture make the Drive to Feed Kids possible: American Family Insurance and the American Family Dreams Foundation, Missouri Rural Health Network, Nutra-Blend, MFA Incorporated, The Poultry Federation, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, FCS Financial, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Farm Bureau, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Forrest and Charlotte Lucas & Lucas Cattle Company, Hunters Moon Run N Gun, Smithfield Foods, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri State Fair Foundation, Midwest Dairy, Missouri 4-H Foundation, and partners the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Fair, Feeding Missouri and the contributions of many Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.