This week, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and FBL Financial Group (NYSE:FFG) kick off a new joint effort to fight local food insecurity through a week-long, company-wide food drive to bring much-needed support to Iowa food banks. The food drive coincides with the organizations’ sponsorship of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Iowa Hunger Summit, held Oct. 16 in Des Moines. This is the second year of the organizations’ five-year joint sponsorship of the Iowa Hunger Summit.
The Iowa Hunger Summit is expected to bring together 500 leaders from across the state to explore how building food security helps fight hunger and to showcase efforts that raise awareness of local, national and global issues of poverty, hunger and nutrition.
“Iowa farmers strive to raise a variety of food at a variety of price options, which brings more choices to more Americans,” said Craig Hill, IFBF president. “This is important to help increase food security in Iowa and around the world. The key, however, is to embrace innovation and technology in farming practices to enable us to meet growing consumer needs.”
“We’re proud to sponsor the Iowa Hunger Summit with Iowa Farm Bureau, and be part of an initiative that leads the charge against hunger and poverty, spotlighting the achievements of organizations that bring food insecurity to the forefront and inspire others to act,” said FBL Financial Group Chief Executive Officer Jim Brannen.
In addition to the local food drive, IFBF will support the Iowa Food Bank Association during its America Needs Farmers Game Day Oct. 20 when the Iowa Hawkeye football team plays Penn State (
www.americaneedsfarmers.org).
“It’s a great opportunity to not only raise awareness of what our farmers do to raise the food we need, but to raise funds for the food bank,” said Hill. “For every one dollar donated, the Food Bank of Iowa can provide two pounds of food to those in need. Just like we still believe in Norman Borlaug’s vision of feeding more needing people through agricultural technology and innovative methods, we support this organization’s ability to make the most of those donations.”