What began as a simple challenge to county junior fair boards five years ago has grown into one of the most impactful youth-led initiatives.
Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer was launched by Farm Credit Mid-America in 2021 as a way to support local food pantries and give back to communities. Junior fair boards compete to collect as many food donations as possible, with top counties earning cash prizes to reinvest in local programs. The competition takes place during county fairs — a time when food pantry shelves often run low.
What started as a grassroots effort in Ohio spread to Indiana the following year and has now mobilized thousands of young people, strengthened dozens of food banks and provided relief to families facing food insecurity. In just five years, the program has collected more than 1.6 million lb. of food, proving the power of youth leadership and community collaboration.
How does Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer work?
- Accept the Challenge: Connect with your county fair leaders and let Farm Credit Mid-America know you want to compete.
- Register: Indiana and Ohio.
- Develop a Plan: Use your creativity to inspire community members to make donations and find ways to raise money to purchase food for your trailer.
- Download toolkits: Indiana Toolkit | Ohio Toolkit These toolkits are packed with banners, flyers, signage, social media graphics and many helpful tools.
- Collect Items: During your fair, collect food items and place them in your trailer.
- Donate: When your fair concludes, weigh all of your items, donate to a local food bank and report your success to Farm Credit Mid-America.
- Celebrate: Let your community know what you accomplished; top donors will be awarded additional winnings.
For more information, visit Farm Credit Mid-America’s Community Investment website.
