In their first-ever “Harvest For All” campaign, Nevada Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) members Lee Mathews of Panaca, Blake Stratton of Moapa Valley and Jimmy Lotspeich of Reno conducted individual projects that drew together 120 volunteer hours, collecting 2,243 lbs of nonperishable groceries and $177 that went to food banks and charities assisting families in need.

Mathews' project benefited a Caliente food pantry; Stratton conducted a competitive food drive to help families currently out of work; and Lotspeich engaged the University of Nevada, Reno’s new collegiate Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and other YF&R and FFA chapter members in a service project at a Reno market to help the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

In mid-January, state YF&R committees report their past year’s successes in the categories of food, funds, volunteer hours and most innovative projects to Feeding America in a friendly competition for cash awards. The awards will be presented at the February national YF&R leadership conference in Tulsa, Okla. The awards will go back to the Feeding America organizations in the winners’ states to further assist families.

Started in 2002 by the American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee, the goal of annual Harvest For All projects is to help feed millions of needy Americans. Over several years the campaign has expanded collecting food, funds and people power donated to create a hunger-free America by sharing the bounty produced on our nation’s farms and ranches.

Harvest For All includes projects conducted throughout the year planned by state and county farm bureaus in connection with the national Feeding America organization and its statewide affiliates. National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Sygenta have served as corporate partners.