Missouri and Kansas FFA chapters joined together to help fight hunger by collecting food items for the annual Border War Food Drive during the Western Farm Show.

About 90 FFA chapters from Missouri and Kansas collected and delivered 3,111 nonperishable food items during this year’s show at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo.

In Missouri, 70 chapters collected 2,143 food items. The top three chapters were Lone Jack with 504 items, St. Joseph at 233 and Gilman City with 217.  This is the seventh time in the past eight years Lone Jack won the competition, bringing in the most food items from all chapters from both states. The chapter will receive a $500 prize for its accomplishment.

Nearly 20 participating Kansas chapters brought 968 items to the show, with the highest totals from Louisburg with 304 items and Tonganoxie at 280, allowing them to come in second and third overall from both states, behind Lone Jack.

The food was donated to the Harvesters — The Community Food Network, a Kansas City-based regional food bank that serves a 26-county area of northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. In the eight years the Western Farm Show food drive has been conducted, nearly 34,000 pounds of food have been delivered to Harvesters, which provided more than 28,000 meals for those facing food insecurity.

“We’re so grateful to these FFA students and the Western Farm Show, and appreciative of their continuing commitment,” said Gene Hallinan, communications manager for Harvesters.

More than 3,500 students from the two states attended the show Feb. 22 on FFA Day, where they also had the opportunity to participate in educational seminars and learn about career opportunities in the ag industry.

“FFA Day is always one of the highlights of the Western Farm Show,” show manager Ken Dean said. “All the participating students are to be commended for the great leadership and commitment they demonstrated to help in the fight against hunger.”

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