It makes perfect sense for a food drive to be at Husker Harvest Days, the world’s largest totally irrigated working farm show, where visitors can learn about the latest technologies and practices to help feed a hungry world.

This year at Husker Harvest Days on Sept. 11-13, Heartland United Way will once again be holding its annual Food 4 Families food drive. This year’s drive, part of a partnership among Heartland United Way, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of America and Farm Progress, marks the 10th year for the drive.

“At Husker Harvest Days, a show focused on feeding America, it made sense to work with FFA students and create public awareness not only among students, but also attendees at Husker Harvest Days about hunger in America, especially in the heart of America,” says Karen Rathke, president at Heartland United Way. “It sets the stage for how we can all feed America and where there’s a gap and how can future farmers can help meet this need in their role.”

The food drive takes place all three days of the show and gives visitors a chance to donate nonperishable food items before entering the show gates — and provides free admission for FFA members who donate food items Sept. 12, the second day of the show (often referred to as FFA Day, when FFA members join the crowded streets at HHD).

All the food is weighed and sorted, and then loaded to bring to shelters, food pantries and backpack programs throughout the Grand Island area.

However, the food drive extends beyond HHD and is held in conjunction with local food drives at collection sites at grocery stores throughout Hall, Hamilton, Merrick and Howard counties, where shoppers can also buy meals to donate.

“Some grocers will pre-bag $5 worth of groceries. The items are preselected to meet the needs of the area,” Rathke says. “With backpack programs, it’s so important families get food they can prepare easily, or even children can prepare for them. We pick it up, so people can pay for it, but don’t need to take it anywhere to donate.”

The event typically raises around 10,000 pounds of food each year. As of 2017, the food drive has collected over 94,000 pounds of food, including at HHD and at local grocery stores.

“Last year, 11,401 pounds were collected just on-site at HHD. When we added up grocery stores, it was nearly 12,000 pounds,” Rathke says. “We award a $200 and $100 grant back to the FFA chapters that collect the most food. Last year, Palmer FFA collected 900 pounds of food. Second place was Shelby-Rising City with 551.7 pounds of food. We had over 90 FFA chapters participate.”

While it may be hard to believe hunger is a problem in the breadbasket of the world, Rathke notes it is a problem even in Nebraska. In the four-county area, 43% of all children are eligible for free and reduced school lunch, compared to the statewide average of 42.1%. Within the four-county area, 10.7% of residents and 18% of children are food insecure. Meanwhile, 11.9% of Nebraska residents and 18.3% of all children in Nebraska are food insecure.

“There’s a misconception that this is a staple resource for some people. Many of these programs have rules that limit it to once every three months or twice a year. It’s about helping families get through a difficult time. Life happens. There are unexpected expenses and illnesses, and the last thing anybody wants is for a child or family member to go hungry,” Rathke says. “As communities, if we can come together and help families through tough times, that’s what it’s for.”