What:LaPorte County businesses and non-profits have partnered to provide local, 4-H-raised protein to more than 40 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. 4-Her’s participated in Stock the Trailer during the LaPorte County Fair and raised 6,260 pounds of non-perishable items to be donated to local food pantries in Stock the Trailer - a friendly competition that helps junior fairs raise food donations for local food pantries across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

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. That’s 2,000 pounds MORE than in 2022! Additionally, all cattle organs will be donated to the LaPorte County K9 Units for their dogs’ raw diets.

Where: LaPorte County Fairgrounds Community Building | 2581 W. State Rd. 2 LaPorte, IN 46350

When: Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. CST

Available for interviews:

• Kelsey Guadaramma, LaPorte County Purdue Extension Educator
• Ranai Stoner, Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st ?
• Mark Parkman, LaPorte County Farm Bureau president
• Steve Mrozinski, LaPorte County Agricultural Association president
• Catherine Mrozinski, Operation Feed LaPorte County founder

RSVP: Media interested in attending should RSVP to Catherine Mrozinski by Tuesday, Aug. 15 at ccmrozinski@gmail.com or 219-575-2251.

About Operation Feed LaPorte County: Operation Feed LaPorte County is a group of businesses and non-forprofits that have made it their mission to purchase 4-H and youth livestock to provide quality protein in their communities. In 2022, 35 food pantries were helped with 2,582 pounds of meat donated from the LaPorte County 4-H Livestock Auction.

About Stock the Trailer: Now in its third year, Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is a friendly competition that helps junior fairs raise food donations for local food pantries across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The contest is one of many ways Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st give back to rural communities and support local agriculture. 4-H clubs received donations at the 2023 LaPorte County Fair