Jefferson City, Mo. – At the 2026 Missouri State Fair, agricultural leaders, Missouri FFA and Missouri 4-H members and partners celebrated another successful Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids. This year’s effort provided 825,196 meals for Missouri children and families facing food insecurity. With 1 in 5 Missouri children experiencing hunger, the Drive to Feed Kids continues to unite Missouri agriculture in the fight against hunger. Since launching in 2017, the initiative has provided more than 14.5 million meals to children and families across the state.
“The Drive to Feed Kids highlights what Missouri agriculture can accomplish when we work together,” said Ashley McCarty, Executive Director of Missouri Farmers Care. “From farmers and ranchers to FFA and 4-H members, volunteers, businesses and community partners, thousands of people have united to help provide meals for Missouri children and families. We are proud to celebrate agriculture’s incredible impact and grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.”
This year’s activities at the Missouri State Fair capped another year of statewide hunger relief efforts led by Missouri’s agricultural community. Missouri youth organizations once again played a leading role:
- More than 850 Missouri FFA members packed 252,564 meals during the Missouri FFA Day of Service at the Missouri State Fair while also donating fresh produce grown through student agricultural education projects.
- 4-H members raised resources to provide 250,271 meals through 4-H Feeding Missouri.
- 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, and collegiate organizations provided 145,748 meals in their communities through matching grants from the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation.
- Fairgoers supported Drive to Feed Kids during $2 Tuesday, contributing funds and non-perishable food donations equivalent to 53,231 meals.
Protein remains one of the most requested food items by Missouri food banks. Through the Hogs for Hunger initiative, swine exhibitors and producers donated enough pork to provide approximately 36,125 servings of pork this year. Drive to Feed Kids donations are distributed statewide through Feeding Missouri, the association of Missouri’s six regional food banks.
“Drive to Feed Kids reflects some of Missouri’s best values: hard work, generosity, and a commitment to helping our neighbors,” said Leigh Anne Haun, executive director of Feeding Missouri. “Through our partnership with Missouri Farmers Care, this packing event provides nutritious meals to families experiencing food insecurity while demonstrating the positive impact Missouri agriculture can have on communities across the state. We’re grateful to the partners who make this program possible.”
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids is made possible through the generous support of Missouri agriculture and business partners, including: ADM, Brownfield Ag News, American Family Insurance, Missouri FQHC Rural Health Network, Show-Me America 250, Nutra-Blend, MFA Incorporated, FCS Financial, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, The Poultry Federation, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Smithfield Foods, Missouri Farm Bureau, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Hunter’s Moon Run N Gun, Home State Health, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, PivotBio, Beck’s Hybrids, Missouri 4-H Foundation, Missouri Pork, and the Missouri State Fair Foundation.
Launched in 2017, Drive to Feed Kids builds partnerships among farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and community leaders to address childhood hunger across Missouri. To learn more or get involved, visit www.MOFarmersCare.com/Drive.