Fifty-six cattle have been donated to the Beef Up Iowa program from Iowa youth in 27 counties across the state as of September 29, 2020. These cattle have been processed in the Iowa State University Animal Science Department Meats Laboratory and then distributed through the Iowa Food Bank Association. The ground beef from this program has provided over 90,000 meals to be distributed to food insecure Iowans so far.
Corteva Agriscience and Alliant Energy both made generous donations to support the Beef Up Iowa initiative. Emily Christensen from Goldfield, Iowa and Lincoln Woosley from Cambridge, Iowa are two of the young Iowans that donated their cattle to this program. They were in attendance to help accept the donations from Corteva Agriscience and Alliant Energy.
Donors and program collaborators all spoke to the great impact the Beef Up Iowa Program is making to help combat food insecurity in a time where more Iowans are needing assistance. The Iowa Food Bank Association emphasized how it is so important to provide safe, high quality protein to the food banks and food pantries across the state.
Lincoln Woosley, a 4-Her who donated to the program said, “It is the right thing to do.” Lincoln, along with all of the other donors are great examples of Iowans helping Iowans.
Lincoln Woosley telling about the cattle he raised with his brothers, Sully and Griffin
Representatives from Corteva Agriscience, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa State University Animal Science Department, Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Food Banks Association, Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Julie Kenney, Lincoln Woosley and Emily Christensen
Representatives from Alliant Energy, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa State University Animal Science Department, Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Food Banks Association, Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Julie Kenney, Lincoln Woosley and Emily Christensen