Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st program empowers Ohio youth to fight hunger in Ohio 

(November 11, 2025) – This summer, youth 4-H leaders across Ohio united in a powerful effort to fight hunger in their local communities—collecting a record-breaking 448,827pounds of food for more than 60 food banks statewide.

As part of the Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer competition—presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st—these young leaders turned a friendly rivalry into a statewide movement, making a real difference in their communities while earning funds for their 4-H organizations.

  Melanie Strait-Bok, Farm Credit Mid-America’s senior vice president of agricultural lending in Ohio.

“Supporting rural communities and agriculture is at the heart of our mission, and this initiative is a powerful example. Feeding America reports that more than 1.8 million Ohioans face food insecurity. It’s inspiring to see our Ohio youth lead innovative efforts like this to support their communities.”

This marks the fourth consecutive year of record donations in the five-year-old program – representing a 57% increase over 2024’s total of 286,000 pounds. Ross County in south Ohio was the overall state winner, collecting an astounding 122,640 pounds of food Brookside Church and Good Samaritan Food Pantry.

Fulton County Junior Fair Board member, Alysia Callender said-

“It was truly rewarding to help fill three local food pantries. A week before we delivered, the director of one food pantry called to tell us how low their shelves were getting and with the holidays coming up they could really use what we were able to give. To have this impact in three different areas in our county was so extremely rewarding, it was moving to see the Fulton County Junior Fair Board kids load and unload the food knowing that it was helping others in our community. Always trying to make the best better for our club, our community, our world.”

 In addition to the nearly 450,000 pounds of food collected by the 4-H teams, Farm Credit Mid-America donated $63,000 to 4-H county fairs in Ohio this summer. All of the nearly 60participating county fair’s 4-H program received a $500 donation to support activities that build future agriculture leaders. Additional prize dollars were given to the top participating fairs in each of five regions.

 

* Ross, Lorain and Champaign counties were all top finishers in 2024 as well.

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. Of that, $450,000 supported Ohio-specific programs, including $82,000 for Ohio 4-H—demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of agriculture in our state.

To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America and its commitment to supporting local communities, visit www.fcma.com.

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About Farm Credit Mid-America

A proud member of the Farm Credit System, Farm Credit Mid-America is securing the future of rural communities and agriculture® as a leading provider of reliable, consistent credit and financial services to farmers, producers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. The customer-owned cooperative serves more than 145,000 customers and manages a portfolio of $44.1 billion in total earning assets owned and managed. Farm Credit Mid-America’s products and services include loans for real estate, operating, equipment, rural living, crop insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information, visit www.fcma.com.

About Rural 1st®

Rural 1st is the consumer lending division of Farm Credit Mid-America, a financial services cooperative whose purpose is to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. Rural 1st is the leader in rural lending and helps those who are seeking open spaces get Closer to What Matters®. Rural 1st offers tailored product options for lot, land, construction, and home loans for those who want to live rurally. For more information, call 1-844-GO-RURAL or visit www.Rural1st.com. NMLS 407249. Equal Housing Lender.