IDOA, ACES, and local food banks unite to deliver 1,000+ pounds of protein during Hunger Action Month

This year, Champaign County 4-H’er Austin Ater celebrated his 14th birthday in an extraordinary way — by giving back. The 2025 Illinois State Fair junior grand champion poultry exhibitor donated his record-setting winning pen of chickens to help fight hunger in the community.

Now in its second year, this Sale of Champions donation program reflects a growing partnership between the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign whereby meat from champion animals is processed by students and staff in the Meat Science Laboratory and donated to food banks across Illinois.

This year’s donation totaled more than 1,100 pounds of protein. Alongside Ater’s contribution, the shipment included beef exhibited by Kadie Hummel of Kankakee County, pork exhibited by Emma Rhoads of DeKalb County, lamb exhibited by Bryce Clayton of Scott County, and goat exhibited by Maddox Horner of Jasper County. 

The meat was packaged into family-friendly portions and distributed locally through the Wesley Food Pantry, which serves the U. of I. campus community and surrounding neighborhoods. Wesley works in partnership with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, the regional hub that supplies food to pantries across 21 counties, and with Feeding Illinois, the statewide network that connects these donations to families most in need.

“About one in five students experiences food insecurity, so a donation like this makes a real difference,” said Dawn Longfellow, representing the Wesley Food Pantry. “Between our three locations, we serve roughly 200 households every week. Thanks to the Foodbank and Feeding Illinois, this meat will be used quickly and will help ensure families get high-quality protein on their plates.”

For Ater, a sixth-year 4-H member, the day was a chance for one local farm family to support other local families. “We have the ability to give back, so we felt like we should,” he said.

Faculty and staff in the Meat Science Laboratory emphasized how the project connects youth achievement, student learning, and community service.

“This is the full circle of our land-grant mission — education, service, and community,” said Anna Dilger, professor of meat science and muscle biology. “Our students learn traditional butchering skills and food safety while ensuring champion livestock provide nourishment where it’s needed most.”

Khalil Jallaq, research specialist and meat lab manager, underscored how ACES tailored the donation to reflect the diverse families served by local pantries. “Goat is hard to find fresh in Central Illinois,” he explained. “Preparing bone-in cuts means families from Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian backgrounds can make the comfort foods that taste like home.”

For Illinois 4-H, the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, the event demonstrated the program’s enduring values.

“Think about the hands-on skills youth gain, the heart it takes to give back, the headwork to connect food systems from farm to table, and the health benefits of putting protein on local plates,” said Kevin Carey, interim assistant dean and program leader for Illinois 4-H. “This is what the four H’s are all about.”

This donation also coincided with Hunger Action Month, a national campaign aimed at raising awareness about food insecurity and mobilizing support for those in need. President and CEO of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Kelly Daly, said the timing highlights both the need and the many ways people can contribute.

How to help

• Volunteer at a local food pantry, including campus-based sites like Wesley Food Pantry.
   
• Donate funds to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, where every dollar stretches to feed multiple families.
   
• Farmers and producers can participate in farm-to-food-bank programs, supported by grants that help cover the costs of harvesting and distribution.
   
• Raise awareness during Hunger Action Month by sharing stories, wearing orange, or hosting a food drive.
   
• Get involved year-round through student groups, Extension initiatives, or recurring gifts to sustain hunger relief efforts beyond September.

“Every dollar donated allows us to stretch resources and provide multiple meals,” Daly said. “From farmers and producers to students and volunteers, everyone has a role to play in ensuring no one in our community goes hungry. Together, we can turn generosity into nourishment for our neighbors.”