Joining the Movement to End Hunger with Greenwood FFA (@FFAgwood)

Jake Barton, a Greenwood FFA member,
shared one of the many stories of real people
 that struggle with hunger across the world.

Greenwood High School FFA (@FFAgwood) members joined the fight to end hunger with the community of the Millerstown area in Perry County on Friday, February 2nd as they held their 6th annual hunger event at the Newport Family Life Center.

This year, their hunger event was an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, through the Oxfam America organization. Oxfam Hunger Banquets give groups the opportunity to make a difference, both locally and globally. They are volunteer-led interactive banquets that bring statistics about poverty to life, and anyone interested in hosting a hunger banquet is easily able to do so. Representatives from various organizations in Perry County area were in attendance, as well as from Global Teach Ag (@globalteachag).

Greenwood's hunger banquet was held to raise money
for the Perry County Food Bank, raising over $3000.

Ms. Libby Baker-Mikesell is a current
Penn State student, FFA National
Officer Candidate for Pennsylvania, and
Greenwood alum.

The evening started off with an introduction, and dove straight into the meal - but with a catch. Attendees of the hunger event were served - or not served - based on where they sat, and different meals were available to different guests to represent the unequal distribution of wealth and access of food across the world. 

After the meal, Greenwood FFA members introduced the Emcee for the main program, Libby Baker-Mikesell (@baker_mi16), the FFA National Officer Candidate of Pennsylvania and Greenwood alum. She spoke about the theme for the evening's events, food inequity, and introduced FFA members who role-played real people from across the world and shared their stories. Each story gave a glimpse into the reality of uncertainty that others live in when it comes to food availability and economic stability.

Perry County Commissioner Brenda Benner
shares what we can do to help solve the issue
of food security in our own communities. 

At the conclusion of the event, we heard from Perry County Commissioner Brenda Benner. She spoke briefly on what simple actions we can take to help solve the problems of inequity and food waste in our own lives and communities. The end of the dinner was accompanied with a bake sale and the opportunity to donate to the Perry County Food Bank. Greenwood was able to raise over $3000 though the banquet, thanks to donors and sponsors, and the money will be staying in the local area to support the Perry County community.

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.

Hunter Kauffman, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu