For the fourth year, the Farm Progress Show, Monsanto and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation have teamed up to help feed Iowa's hungry with the America's Farmers Food Drive. You can help, and you might even gain free admission to the show by doing so.
Bring food items
As part of the initiative, Farm Progress Show visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the show. Each gate will have a drop-off location. For every pound of food collected, Monsanto will donate $1 in cash to the United Way of Story County, up to $10,000. For every pound of food collected, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation will match a $1 donation to Feeding America, up to $20,000.
Help Feed Rural American Families
Free admission for 4-H and FFA students with donations
All 4-H and FFA students/members who bring a bag of food will receive free admission.
Additionally, the first 250 farmers who attend each day and bring a bag of food will receive free admission.
Working together
"Monsanto will have a presence near the plot tour and the watermelon and sweet corn stands at the show where we will be signing up farmers for the chance to win $2,500 through our America's Farmers Grow Communities program," says Annie Kayser, Monsanto community outreach manager. "Additionally, we are excited to announce the winning school districts of our America's Farmers Grow Rural Education program at the show."
Don Tourte, Farm Progress director of sales and national events, says an event like this is a great way to further strengthen the bond between the Farm Progress Show and the local community. "We are excited to be part of this food drive," Tourte adds. "It is an excellent opportunity to give something back to the community that is our home during the Farm Progress Show."
Record breaking
A record amount of food donations were collected last year at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. - 16,883 pounds of food and more than $3,290 in cash. With the $1-per-pound match from Monsanto, the food drive raised the equivalent of 30,173 pounds of food for needy families in the Decatur area.
Don't miss the show
The 2012 Farm Progress Show takes place in Boone, Iowa, Aug. 28, 29 and 30. The exhibit field is open to visitors 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for ages 13-17, and ages 12 and under are free. Discounted advance adult admission tickets are available now on the show's website. For a full schedule of events and more detailed information, visit www.FarmProgressShow.com. The 2nd Annual Shootout tractor pull is a separate event, and a separate admission ticket is needed.
There's a handy Farm Progress Show app for iPhones and Android mobile phones, available in the respective devices' app markets.