On Thursday, Jan. 29, Missouri agricultural leaders joined Gov. Mike Kehoe, First Lady Claudia Kehoe and members of the Missouri House and Senate in the State Capitol to pack 15,000 meals for food insecure Missourians.
The event was an element of the year-long Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids, presented in partnership with Brownfield Ag News and ADM. “Drive to Feed Kids is Missouri agriculture putting compassion into action,” said Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation.
“Farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses are committed to producing the products we depend on to sustain us while bridging the gap, so every child has the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
One in seven children in the state of Missouri are food insecure. Food insecurity in childhood is associated with poor academic performance, developmental delays and chronic illness. Food security is not a rural or urban issue, with childhood hunger affecting every county in the state.
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids launched in 2017 to build partnerships among nonprofits, farmers and agricultural businesses committed to raising awareness and addressing hunger in Missouri. Over the past ten years, Missouri agriculture has donated more than 13.7 million meals to food insecure Missourians in every county through the Drive.
“Claudia and I appreciate the commitment of Missouri Farmers Care and our state’s agriculture leaders in fighting against hunger through the Drive to Feed Kids,” said Gov. Kehoe.
“In parts of Missouri, one in three kids face food insecurity, and these meal packing events make a real difference in the lives of Missouri families. Thank you to all the legislators and agriculture partners who joined us to pack meals at the State Capitol.”
The Drive creates opportunities for the agriculture community to share how science, stewardship and technology equip them to responsibly produce food for our communities and world. The Drive’s year-long effort includes meal packing, hog processing and activities to collect food and raise resources. One goal of the Drive is to inspire youth and agriculture groups to come together to host events and activities to serve their food insecure neighbors.
“When Missouri agriculture comes together with a shared purpose, the impact is powerful,” McCarty said. “The Drive to Feed Kids shows the heart of Missouri agriculture. Missouri farmers and ranchers work diligently to care for land and livestock while supporting their communities, the Drive to Feed Kids is an extension of that stewardship.”
Individuals, organizations and companies interested in joining the Drive to Feed Kids can find details at www.mofarmerscare.com/drive. All donations support the Drive and the work of Feeding Missouri network food banks who work daily to alleviate hunger in every Missouri county and the city of St. Louis.
What is Missouri Farmers Care? Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which our communities depend. The coalition of more than 40 leading Missouri agricultural groups promotes the growth of Missouri agriculture and rural communities through coordinated communication, education and advocacy. https://mofarmerscare.com/
What is the Drive to Feed Kids? The Drive to Feed Kids is More than Just a Food Drive. Launched in 2017, the Drive to Feed Kids builds collaborative partnerships among nonprofits, farmers and agribusinesses committed to addressing food insecurity across the state. To learn more, including how to get involved in 2026, visit https://mofarmerscare.com/drive/.
2025 Drive to Feed Kids By the Numbers. The 2025 Drive to Feed Kids provided over 720,000 meals to Missourian’s facing food insecurity. Missouri 4-H members provided 271,000 meals during the 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign this spring. Missouri FFA members packed more than 177,000 family meals. 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, and collegiate groups statewide expanded their local impact by providing 97,000 meals through matching grants. Through the Hogs for Hunger initiative, swine exhibitors and producers generously committed enough pork to provide 27,500 servings this year. Fairgoers also contributed to the effort through $2 Tuesday at the Fair, donating non-perishable food and funds equivalent to 49,000 meals. Over nine years, the Drive has provided more than 13.7 million meals to children and families across Missouri.