FULTON COUNTY, OHIO, Ohio — If you have some extra cans lying around, or non-perishables, there's a way to put them to good use.
For the third year, the Fulton County Fair welcomed the "Fight Hunger: Stock the Trailer" event.
Sponsored in partnership with Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st, Fight Hunger: Stock the Trailer encourages regional communities to donate non-perishable food items.
Four years ago, Farm Credit Mid-America created the initiative to help with food insecurity across Ohio and the Midwest.
"It really was to help fight food insecurity here in Ohio and across the states that we cover. There are more than a million people here in Ohio that face food insecurity. So, what this initiative does is it brings together youth throughout the county to bring in food and help support local food banks," said Hillary Poulson, a Farm Credit Mid-America representative.
Last year, more than 65 counties across Ohio donated more than 228,000 pounds of food to Ohio food banks as part of the program.
Poulson said the event is beneficial to everyone involved.
"It's (response) been overwhelmingly supportive. What we see are that these youth are really looking for a way to engage with their communities and this is such a great initiative to go outside of the norm and do something that helps a larger community," said Poulson. "What we see is that we really want to have a presence in our community. The mission is to support the future of rural communities and agriculture by putting our youth in here to help close that gap in hunger."
Neal Callender, one of the Fulton County Fair Board directors, said people have been excited to help.
"The community sees it, and more and more people see it, and they see it here every year. It turns out really well. We've got more than we had last year."
Callender said Fulton County was first introduced to the Stock the Trailer event when Farm Credit reached out.
"Farm Credit got with us and this is our third year doing this for the community. It's been going real well every year. We keep gaining and gaining and getting more stuff for the community," said Callender.
Callender said throughout the year, the fair prepares for the trailer, and that the county takes pride in giving back, and at the end of the fair season, they donate all of the food to a local shelter.
"Oh, it makes you feel real good. It makes the hard work we do all year round for this one week a big difference," said Callender. "Fulton County's proud of what we do here, and we like it real well."
At the end of each fair, the total weight of all donations will be weighed, and prizes will be given to the top three counties.
First place gets $5,000, second gets $3,500, and third place gets $1,500.
No matter what, every fair gets $500 just for participating.
All the money will go towards supporting local junior fair activities, including new technology and statewide junior fair conferences.
The Fight Hunger: Stock the Trailer event is happening now until Sept. 5 at the Fulton County Fair in Wauseon.
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