What: LaPorte County businesses and non-profits have partnered to provide local, 4-H-raised protein to more than 35 food pantries and soup kitchens as part of Operation Feed LaPorte County – a mission that has been dedicated to distributing local meat to the hungry for nearly 10 years.
More than 20 businesses and non-profits partnered at the LaPorte County 4-H Livestock Auction on July 14 to purchase animals, which were processed by Sims Meat Processing in Kingsbury, IN to produce approximately 5,000 pounds of beef, pork, lamb and goat meat to feed the hungry in the community - 2,000 pounds more than in 2022. Additionally, all cattle organs will be donated to the LaPorte County K9 Division for their dogs’ raw diets.
During the LaPorte county fair, 4-Her’s participated in Stock the Trailer, a friendly competition from Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st, which helps junior fairs to gather food donations for local food pantries across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. They raised 6,260 pounds of non-perishable items also to be donated to local food pantries during the event.
Where: LaPorte County Fairgrounds Community Building | 2581 W. State Rd. 2 LaPorte, IN 46350
When: Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 | 4:00 p.m.
Available for interviews:
- Ranai Stoner, Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st
- Mark Parkman, LaPorte County Farm Bureau president
- Steve Mrozinski, LaPorte County Agricultural Association president
- Kelsey Guadaramma, LaPorte County Purdue Extension Educator
- Catherine Mrozinski, Operation Feed LaPorte County founder
- Weston Frazier, 4-Her who raised some of the donated animals
Photo Opportunity: Photo opportunities will be available from 4 – 5 p.m. with donors, volunteers and 4Her’s that contributed to these programs. K9 units may be on site if time allows.
RSVP:Media interested in attending should RSVP to Catherine Mrozinski by Monday, Aug. 21 at ccmrozinski@gmail.com or 219-575-2251.
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