Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer Donates Record Pounds of Food to Indiana Food Banks

Youth 4-H leaders led the effort this summer.

Shutterstock photo.

INDIANAPOLIS - This summer, youth 4-H leaders across Indiana united to fight hunger in their local communities

The annual Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer competition, presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st, collecting a record-breaking 233,500 pounds of food for 70 food banks statewide.

“Supporting rural communities and agriculture is at the heart of our mission, and this initiative is a powerful example,” said Natasha Cox, Farm Credit Mid-America’s senior vice president of agricultural lending in Indiana. “Feeding America reports that more than 1 million Hoosiers face food insecurity. It’s inspiring to see our Indiana youth lead innovative efforts to support their communities.”

This marks the fourth consecutive year of record donations in the five-year-old program – with 2025 more than doubling the 2024 total of 108,000 pounds. Just as the amount of donated food increases each year, the number of county fairs and youth leaders increases as well. In 2025, the number of county fairs participating grew from 38 to 42. Lake County in northwest Indiana was the overall state winner, collecting an astounding 75,122 pounds of food.

In Southeast Indiana, 56,698 pounds of food were gathered. The top three counties are listed below: 

• First Place: Jackson County raised 24,320 pounds of food and received $5,000.
• Second Place: Decatur County raised 11,160 pounds of food and received $1,500.
• Third Place: Jennings County raised 8,340 pounds of food and received $500.

Every participating county fair received a $500 donation to support activities that build future agriculture leaders. Additional prize dollars were given to the top participating fairs in each of five regions. In total, Farm Credit Mid-America donated $56,000 to 4-H county fairs in Indiana