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 in the region.
Fight 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 1.6 million pounds of food, proving the power of youth leadership and community collaboration.
“This program is more than a competition; it’s a movement of compassion, community and youth leadership,” said Jennie Shultice, financial officer with Farm Credit Mid-America in Ohio. “The impact is felt not only in the numbers but in the stories — families finding relief and youth discovering the power of service.”
The initiative also invests in youth leadership. Farm Credit Mid-America awards each participating junior fair board $500, plus additional prizes for top performers. In five years, $436,500 has been awarded to junior boards and 4-H teams.
Jessica Weathers, associate financial officer in Columbus, Indiana, added: “Food insecurity does not discriminate — it affects children, the elderly and families in both cities and rural towns. This initiative empowers youth to take action in their own communities.”
Local fair boards say the experience is transformative. Nolan Norman, junior fair board member in Lorain County, Ohio, shared: “The real reward is serving your community and seeing the difference it makes. People don’t truly grasp the scale until they see that semi-truck pulling in full of food.”
Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is just one way Farm Credit Mid-America and its consumer lending brand, Rural 1st, invest in rural communities and agriculture. In 2024, the association contributed nearly $4.5 million to impactful programs — including $1.7 million for youth, college students and young and beginning farmers.
