Buckeye Farm News

Farmers and Farm Bureau members have the reputation of being there when people are in need, and members in Fulton and Seneca counties put forth an extra effort to do just that.

Tom O’Neill is a Fulton County farmer and raises carrots for Campbell’s. Once he met his contract with Campbell’s last season, O’Neill still had several acres of carrots. He worked with the Fulton County Farm Bureau to donate some of the surplus carrots to food banks. Through a joint effort between Farm Bureau, the Association of Second Harvest Food Banks and several county volunteers, 202,000 pounds of carrots were shipped to 12 food banks around the state. “I think it shows that in times of need, people are dedicated to helping the needy. Farm Bureau wants people to be aware that farmers are doing their share and are willing to donate their time and resources to help those who aren’t as fortunate as we are,” O’Neill said.

In Seneca County, Farm Bureau volunteers organized the “Coats for the Heartland” project for the second year, said Darren Frank, Seneca County organization director. The local Farm Bureau worked with Nationwide agent Chris Schiefer and other area businesses to collect 300 coats in the program’s first year. Volunteers recently collected close to 750 coats and are distributing them throughout Seneca and other counties in northwest Ohio.

“This is a great program that both active and associate Farm Bureau members have gotten involved with,” Frank said.