AFBF Named as “Trade Organization of the Year”

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 3, 2007 — Thanks to the hard work and efforts led by the American Farm Bureau Federation's Young Farmers and Ranchers program, AFBF has been recognized as the 2007 Trade Organization of the Year by America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest food bank network.

  AFBF received the honor because of its many contributions through the organization’s “Harvest for All” program, a partnership between Farm Bureau and America’s Second Harvest spearheaded by the AFBF YF&R Committee.  Since it was launched on Hunger Awareness Day in June of 2003, the program has contributed the equivalent of more than 10 million meals to the nation’s hungry, including 4.5 million pounds of donated food, $489,000 dollars raised and over 20,000 combined volunteer hours.

 “Through this program, we are able to show that America’s farmers and ranchers want to assure all Americans have access to the bounty we produce,” said AFBF YF&R Chair Chris Chinn, a farmer from Missouri. “Harvest for All is an example of America’s first-harvesters working to help America’s Second Harvest. Working together, we want to end hunger in America.”

Since 2003, young farmers and ranchers from across the country have volunteered their time helping out in soup kitchens and food banks. They have also donated food from their farms and ranches and worked together to raise much needed funds.

“We are grateful for the American Farm Bureau’s support in working enthusiastically and tirelessly on our behalf to fight hunger in America,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest.

 Each year, the America’s Second Harvest network honors a trade association with the Trade Organization of the Year award for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to the network through a hunger-relief program.

 For more information on Harvest for All, please visit: http://www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=programs.harvest