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ALLIANCE -- This month, the Columbiana County Fair is joining a youth-led statewide effort to fight hunger and give back to local community food banks by participating in the Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer contest -- presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st.
This friendly competition among Ohio county fairs encourages youth leaders to collaborate with their local community to collect food donations for local food banks throughout their county fair. Since launching in 2021, Ohio junior fair boards have used creative tactics and impressive fundraising efforts to increase food donations year after year.
"We're glad to bring this initiative back to county fairs across Ohio and to see young people step up and get their communities involved," said Seth Wilkerson, regional vice president of agricultural lending at Farm Credit Mid-America. "The Columbiana County Fair brings people together, and this contest gives folks a simple way to come alongside a cause that supports neighbors right here at home. In the end, our communities are the ones who benefit most."
4H leaders across Ohio united to collect a record-breaking 448,827 pounds of food for more than 60 food banks statewide in 2025. This marked the fourth consecutive year of record donations - with a 57% increase over 2024's total of 286,000 pounds.
Ross County in south Ohio was the overall state winner, collecting 122,640 pounds of food for Brookside Church and Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
In addition to the food collected, Farm Credit Mid-America donated $500 to each fair board who participated and additional money to the winners in each region, totaling $63,000 to junior fair boards across Ohio.
For more Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer resources, visit Farm Credit Mid-America's Community Investment webpage.