By Staff
LARAMIE—University of Wyoming (UW) Cowboy football fans donated the equivalent of 4,402 meals at Saturday’s Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) “Wyoming Needs Agriculture” event in Laramie.
Cowboy fans were invited to share their Poke Pride and recognize that “Wyoming Needs Agriculture” by participating in WyFB’s “Harvest for All” pre-game event to benefit the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies (WFBR). Fans making donations to the “Harvest for All” event received a “Wyoming Needs Agriculture” game day t-shirt.
WFBR, Wyoming’s only food bank, serves hunger relief agencies in all of Wyoming’s 23 counties. Farmers and ranchers from around the state as well as WyFB staff and WFBR staff were on hand to visit with fans during the “Pre-Game Zone” event. A display recognizing agriculture’s role in Wyoming also provided participants with a good look at farming and ranching.
WFBR staff stated they are proud to work with the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation in supporting farmers and ranchers in the state of Wyoming. “It was wonderful to see the representatives at this event and with their help we can continue to serve hungry and food insecure residents of Wyoming,” said Lorraine Long, WFBR Community Relations Specialist.
According to the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, nearly one in 12 Wyoming citizens struggle with putting enough food on the table. Every 1.2 pounds of food donated equals one meal and every dollar equals four meals.
The Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher “Harvest for All” is a national program that raises food and money for local and state food banks that provide hunger relief.
“Since we are the ones that grow the food, it is nice to be a part of getting help for the people that need food relief,” said Laramie County Farmer and WyFB Vice President Todd Fornstrom. “As a farmer, belonging to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is a way to be a part of events like this and make a difference in policy issues that affect my family.”
Carbon County Rancher Chalsey Kortes said, “Our t-shirts said ‘Wyoming Needs Agriculture.’ And, boy is that true! Agriculture is what puts food on everyone’s table! It does my heart well that we were able to help out our fellow neighbors in Wyoming.”
The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization. The primary goals of the organization are to protect private property rights and help members achieve an equitable return on their investment. Visit www.wyfb.org.