This article originally appeared in the Hamilton County Reporter
‘Meating the Need’ with 4-H’s help

4-H Beef Meating the Need members with donors. (FROM LEFT) Ben Lehman with Farm Bureau, Maggie Adams, Mary
Lou Finchum, HCH Board President, Nate Kavicky, Aaron Seitz with St. Christophers Episcopal Church, Madeline Teal,
Tricia Seitz, Chloe Henderson, Margy Seitz, Karly Dean, and Tally Seitz.

The REPORTER
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCH) has sponsored its second year of “Meating” The Need, a partnership between 4-H Beef, Dairy and Swine projects and the Food Bank. HCH is a non-profit organization that supports local food pantries and feeding programs year round, all here in Hamilton County. This year HCH purchased seven beef and five swine at the Hamilton County 4-H Livestock Auction on Tuesday, July 25. The estimated 3,500 pounds of meat will be used to supply twenty Hamilton County food pantries with farm fresh beef and pork raised by 4-H members. Meat Distribution Day will be Aug. 12. The ten 4-H members who have designated their animals for sale to the Food Bank will be helping to feed those families and children in our own community with good, healthy protein.
Protein is an item that is often missing from our clients’ meals and hard to provide consistently by the pantries because of cost. When beef and pork are available, the families are so appreciative. Donations to this program will go towards the appraised market purchase price of the 4-H animals and to the 4-H members as they pursue their 4-H, education and life goals. This year our ACTS (A Chance To Serve) students chose Meating the Need as their primary project as a majority were involved in the 4-H livestock projects also.
4-H members selling their animals this year were Karly Dean, Chloe Henderson, Madeline Teal, Maggie
Adams, Nate Kavicky (Beef), Karissa Rulon, Emily Peterson, Jenna Peterson, Rachel Adams and Nolan Miller (Swine).
HCH wishes to thank all of the generous donors that have contributed to fully fund this year’s project. Donors include: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, White River Christian Church, Arcadia Christian Church with Angels Attic and HHELP, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Becks Hybrids, Biddle Memorial Foundation, Green Valley Church of Christ, Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Noblesville Township Trustee, Hamilton County Beef Cattlemen’s Association, Delaware Township Trustee, Hamilton County Pork Producers, David and Brenda Day, Fishers Do-It Center, Midwest Financial-Doug Sweet, Bethel Lutheran Food and Baby Pantry, Bread of Life Pantry at Hazel Dell Christian, Open Arms Pantry at Aroma Methodist, Shepherds Gate Pantry at St. Maria Goretti, Sheridan Youth Assistance Food Pantry, Sheridan Lunch Club and Sunflower Pantry at Sheridan First Methodist and Fall Creek Township Trustee. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is donating all of the processing fees for the 12 animals.