CHEYENNE, WYO — First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative has partnered with Dan’s Meat Processing in Evansville to provide hunters with the opportunity to participate in the newly launched Food from the Field program, which enables them to donate all or part of their meat to the local food pantry system.
The ultimate goal of Food from the Field is to utilize Wyoming resources to combat food insecurity. The program complements existing donation efforts around the state and the increased collaboration between agencies offers a framework for more processors to participate.
400 pounds of game meat was distributed to Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies partners last week. “Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies would like to thank the hunters who donated game.
We are honored to receive this meat on behalf of our Agency Partners and those that will have Wyoming protein on their tables as a result. We are grateful to the Food from the Field program partners (the processors, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and Wyoming Hunger Initiative) for working with us to provide a Wyoming solution to a Wyoming challenge,” says Tony Woodell, Director of Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies.
Dan’s Meat Processing is located in Evansville and was one of the first processors to sign on to participate in Food from the Field. This family-owned business has a heart for helping their community and has worked closely with Wyoming Hunger Initiative and the First Lady’s office to ensure that this program succeeds.
“Dan’s Meat Processing has been fundamental in the success of the launch of this program. Prior to participating in this program, Dan’s gave generously to their community so joining forces with Wyoming Hunger Initiative to make an even larger impact was an easy decision. I’m thrilled that we’re already seeing donations distributed to local food pantries so early in the hunting season,” says First Lady Jennie Gordon.
As a part of the program, all donated deer, elk, and moose will undergo appropriate Chronic Wasting Disease testing to ensure safety prior to entering the food bank system.