The Horace Maynard Future Farmers of America Chapter Backpack for Kids Program got a big financial boost on Thursday, June 9, 2022, from Shooting Hunger. As the Back Packs for Kids Program Administrator. Lakin Booker received the $2700 check On hand for the presentation was Kristen Walker of the Tennessee Farm Bureau. Manager Cody Brown and Board President Eddie Thompso, and Joy Nease represented the Union County Farm Bureau. David Bunch from the Union County Farmers Coop and Ben Bradley of Farm Credit Mid-America/Rural 1st also helped award the donation.

Lakin, who also serves as the UCHS FFA Vice President and as a regional officer, and Mr. John Fugate, FFA teacher advisor, explained that the local backpack program has been in operation for over 8 years and continuously serves approximately 165 children in Big Ridge Elementary School, Luttrell Elementary School, Maynardville Elementary School, Paulette Elementary School, and Sharps Chapel Elementary School as well as Horace Maynard Middle School weekly throughout the school year to abate food insecurity on the weekends. All FFA members pack the food in the backpacks, and Ms. Booker is responsible for the timely distribution to the various schools.

The donation was made possible through the joint effort of Tennessee Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid-America/Rural 1st, and the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative from the money raised by the Shooting Hunger Sporting Clays Fun Shoot held across Tennessee and exemplifies their mission of “Pulling together, Feeding neighbors”. Since its founding in 2015, Tennessee agriculture and Tennessee businesses have joined together to fight hunger in Tennessee communities. Shooting Hunger events have raised enough funds to provide more than 2 million meals to hungry Tennesseans. Union County Farm Bureau will sponsor a team led by Manager Cody Brown in the East Tennessee Shooting Hunger Sporting Clays Fun Shoot on October 13, 2022, at Iron Mountain Sporting Clays in Kodak, Tennessee. For more information or to participate, contact Rhonda Humphrey at 931-388-7872, ext. 2223 or info@shootinghunger.com or the Union County Farm Bureau at 865-992-3871 or go to https://www.shootinghunger.com/index.php/locations/east-tennessee.