Wyoming Hunger Initiative Launches New Program

First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative has partnered with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Custom Meats, Inc. out of Hudson, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies to launch a new program called “Food from the Farm + Ranch”. According to a news release from the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the collaboration exemplifies the partnership between related industries that are all committed to utilizing Wyoming products to care for Wyoming people.

For the first time, three beef cattle have been donated by Wyoming producers to be processed by Wyoming Custom Meats Inc. in Hudson, and will be donated to Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies to be distributed through the State. Wyoming Department of Agriculture employees have donated the processing fees for the cattle donated by L-T Livestock, and Hellyer Limited Partnership. The third was donated by Rich and Kay Pingetzer and Jess and Tim Sullivan of Shoshoni, with processing donated by WSGA members Jeff and Susan Sussman and Reg and Aline Phillips of Dubois. Additional processing dates have been scheduled for later this month to accommodate donations from local producers. 

First Lady Gordon said that her initial vision of the initiative was to encompass a component of agriculture that would be part of the solution to food insecurity in the state. She said that she’s beyond excited about the immediate partnership between so many entities working together to ensure longevity of the program.

According to the news release, the ultimate goal of Food from the Farm + Ranch is to utilize Wyoming products to combat food insecurity. There is no better time to recognize Wyoming producers while meeting the increase in needs across the state. Ultimately, the end goal is to reach a point beyond COVID-19 where families and pantries can purchase meat from local producers instead of seeking an out-of-state supplier. Furthermore, while farmers and ranchers are supporting the food bank during this time through the donation of livestock and processing fees, the hope is that residents will support Wyoming producers now and in the future. More information on the Wyoming Hunger Initiative can be found here: https://www.nohungerwyo.org/