Michigan FFA Alumni & Friends announce 2023 service project

Resourceful Young Farmers at last year’s Leaders Conference proved some ingenious structures could be fashioned from donated canned and dry goods.

Date Posted: July 6, 2023

Andrew Smith, FFA Alumni Council

The Michigan FFA Alumni and Friends is renewing its partnership with Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) and asking individuals and affiliate chapters to contribute to our non-perishable canned food drive benefitting Michigan families in need.

Our communities are facing a hunger crisis, with one in five Michigan kids considered food insecure. The problem is especially prevalent in rural communities, where 11% of rural households are facing food insecurity. An additional $696 million is needed to feed the over one million Michiganders facing hunger.

ACF’s mission is to end hunger in Michigan! It is a donor-advised fund within the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture and the agent giving arm. Following the Foundation’s purpose and vision, ACF provides opportunities for agents and county Farm Bureaus to apply for hunger-relief grants and donation matches in our communities.

These funds provide food and educational programs to Michigan residents struggling with hunger and aid more than 3,000 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state. This year ACF will disburse over $180,000 in grants, donation matches and charitable contributions.

The service project and state annual meeting are sharing their venue with the Agro-Expo in St. Johns, Aug. 15-16. As you explore the Expo, be sure to visit booth E1002 to see exhibitors and FFA Alumni participating in our service challenge by competing against each other in a canned food gallery contest.

Exhibitors and local alumni will be creating sculptures from their canned and boxed food donations. Visit the Michigan FFA Alumni and Friends’ Facebook page to see the finished sculptures and vote for your favorite. The winning design will earn a donation for a hunger-relief organization of the winner’s choice.

Individual and chapter donations will continue throughout the expo until the Michigan FFA Alumni and Friends State Annual Meeting Aug. 16. We invite FFA Alumni members to join us for an afternoon full of food, reunions and recognition of the year’s accomplishments.

As we convene, we hope you’ll participate in our challenge with ACF and bring items to be donated.

Registration is $25. For more information, contact Michigan FFA State Alumni Council President Becca Gulliver.