If you are feeling a little upside-down now, just remember you aren’t alone. We are living in strange and hard times. I think that’s why we need to look for and tell more of the good stories, stories of people who aren’t afraid to let kindness lead.
I had so much fun following the #GiveAHam challenge between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and seeing all of the posts of pork producers and swine enthusiasts around the country step up to provide a ham to someone in need.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to visit with National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president-elect Jen Sorenson in November to learn about the campaign. I decided to challenge one of my colleagues at Farm Journal and my daughter challenged her FFA chapter when we donated a couple hams to our local food pantry right before Thanksgiving.
During our visit to the pantry, we asked what their needs were for the Christmas season and learned that they give out approximately 50 hams to families in our small town. The director shared that needs have been higher since the pandemic so she expected she might need more hams than usual.
After talking with my daughter’s FFA teacher, we thought we could meet that need for 50 hams if the FFA chapter started challenging other groups in the school and other FFA chapters in the district. Before we knew it, two hams became 10. Then 10 became 50 and when it was all said and done, around 20 organizations donated over $1,200 to purchase more than 100 hams for our local food pantry.
Not only was Christmas covered, but they now have a freezer full of pork to give out to hungry families in 2021. It’s pretty incredible what can happen when young people get fired up for a good cause. From the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the girls cross country team, to the pep club and the student council, to the junior high and neighboring high schools, kids from all backgrounds, interests and passions came together to make sure hungry people in our community had a ham for their Christmas dinner.
The #GiveAHam campaign was full of great stories like this all across the country. In Wisconsin, NPPC president AV Roth led the contributions in his state by giving 350 hams to local food pantries in his area. Governor Tony Evers as well as Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Designee Randy Romanski also participated.
“Several young producers ignited action for the #GIVEAHAM initiative like producer Brandon Weigel, former mentee Morgan Fitzsimmons, as well as FFA chapters,” shared Keri Retallick, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Pork Producers Association.
In Oklahoma, pork producers Todd and Blake Kennedy shared how friends and family pooled together to be able to provide 127 hams to deserving families in their community through food pantries, the Big Brother, Big Sister project, the police department and more.
“We had a handful of others we placed in people’s hands that work hard every day serving those of us around the community. All in all, this day was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done approaching the holiday season. We can’t thank those of you enough who donated funds to make this happen,” they shared on Facebook.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Marlowe Ivey was on her way to donate hams to her local fire department and was reflecting on the crew of mostly farmers who served her rural community that included many pig farmers like herself.
“Almost by fate, there was a fire call. We quickly took our picture and out the door, they went. A few minutes later their assistant fire chief called to thank me for the hams and let me know they were called to a local hog farm down the road. They had some hay bales catch on fire.
I couldn’t help but smile, as I know someone looking down needed me to tell this story—their story. Tonight was more than just giving a ham it was about firemen, farmers, and the community they serve,” Ivey wrote on Facebook.
As I’ve reflected on this campaign and all the good it does year after year, I’m reminded that when we keep our hearts right and look for the good, we’ll find it. And hopefully, spread that good around a bit.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Will You Accept This Challenge?
Worker Absenteeism in Packing Plants is No Surprise
The Importance of Waiting: 4-H Teaches That Some Things Can’t Be Rushed
