- The Box Elder County Farm Bureau donated 2,000 pounds of pork to local food banks on Friday.
- The donation effort honors the Box Elder County Fair's 100th anniversary this year.
- Local businesses and Future Farmers of America contributed to help surpass the initial donation goals.
TREMONTON — Food banks in Box Elder County received large donations of locally grown meat just before the holidays.
On Friday, the Box Elder County Farm Bureau delivered 2,000 pounds of pork to both the Tremonton Food Pantry and the Box Elder Community Food Pantry.
The deliveries are part of an effort started months ago by North Box Elder County Farm Bureau President Jeff Kent, in honor of the county fair's 100th year.
"It happened to be on the 100th anniversary of the Box Elder County Fair and Rodeo Committee, and so I thought it would be good to go back with the goal to try to feed 100 families in Box Elder County through the food banks," he said.
Local businesses in the community pitched in and donated funds to purchase local pork and beef and the Utah Farm Bureau's Miracle of Agriculture Foundation handled processing of the meat to be donated back to the community through food banks.
Local Future Farmers of America member Savannah Scott raised and showed her pig, named Trixie, which later became part of the donation. She said seeing the donation to the food bank on Friday felt rewarding.
"You never know what people are going through and if they're having trouble," she said, "so it's good to be a part of that."
The large industrial freezers now have locally-grown bacon, sausage, roast and pork chops — a rare variety for the food banks.
"We have people come in in tears, just so grateful to go out with a cart full of food knowing that they'll be able to feed them and their family," said Carey Hunsaker, director of the Tremonton Food Pantry.
"It's wonderful to live in this kind of community," said Kent. "Everybody is willing to help."
He said as he started asking for donations, they quickly surpassed the initial goal.
"I'd set another goal and we'd get to that goal, (and) I'd set another goal," said Kent.
In the end, they were able to donate enough meat to feed far more than 100 families. In Box Elder County, about 660 families rely on food assistance.
"I think we're going to be able to feed all of them," he said with a smile. "So, that's even better."
