GRELLTON — Area residents likely are pretty aware that this week’s Wisconsin Farm Technology Days will highlight numerous food producers and agricultural businesses.
However, not that many might know that the three-day agricultural show also is fighting hunger with a massive food drive.
Jefferson County Farm Technology Days will take place Tuesday through Thursday at Walter Grain Farms the Town of Milford community of Grellton and is expected to bring many thousands of visitors to the area.
This marks the first time that Farm Technology Days, which moves around to different Wisconsin counties each year, will include a food drive, aimed at giving back to the surrounding communities.
Coordinator Tracy Brandel, a member of the Farm Technology Days Executive Board, said that this time of year, local pantries are running low on food.
This happens because its supplies donated during the holidays, when many people contribute and food drives are concentrated, have long since been depleted.
In addition, this time of year especially is hard on needy families because school is out for the summer, so families who rely on school lunch to get their children the nutrition they need have to get more food elsewhere. This puts more strain on local food pantries.
The Jefferson County Farm Technology Days Foods Committee is working in conjunction with food pantries located throughout Jefferson County to collect nonperishable food items at each admission gate during the farm show.
Each attendee is asked to bring at least one item. In return for their donations, attendees will receive a voucher they can redeem at a beverage tent. Some of the bonuses people could receive with this voucher are cookies, coupons and other promotional items.
To learn more about Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, visit the website at http://www.wifarmtechnologydays.com/jefferson/
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is a nonprofit, educational organization that has sponsored an annual event showcasing agriculture and related industries since 1954.