Kathy Stephenson(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Potato farmer Bryan Searle is greeted by young kids as he loads a family’s car with food for the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nelson Abbott loads 50-pound bags of potatoes in people’s trunks as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jared Smith loads 50-pound bags of potatoes in people’s trunks as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Potato farmer Bryan Searle helps load up the back of a pickup truck with food for six families as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Paige Smith lends a helping hand as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Paige Smith lends a helping hand as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nelson Abbott , left, and Jared Smith load 50-pound bags of potatoes in people’s trunks as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kelsey Berg offers fresh eggs as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A young boy peeks out from the back seat as people load up the back of the car with food for the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Clay Crozier offers up carrots for the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mandee Grant offers up fresh eggs for the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Paige Smith lends a helping hand as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Katie Wagner with Wheeler Farm and horticulture faculty at Utah State University offers up zucchini and squash as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Habiba Nur helps assemble food bags as the third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The third “Miracle Project” for the nonprofit foundation which raises money to purchase food produced by Utah farmers and then gives to residents in need, takes place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 27, 2020. The food donation from the Utah Farm Bureau’s “Farmers Feeding Utah” program provided food for 600 individuals and families who have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus.
Hundreds of Salt Lake County residents — many of whom lost jobs due to the coronavirus — received a donation Monday of farm-fresh Utah food.
The donations — part of the Farmers Feeding Utah project — were distributed to about 1,200 families at the Utah State Fairpark and included potatoes, sweet corn, garlic and dried cherries as well as cheese, beef, eggs and milk.
Food donations also were made to various pantries in Salt Lake County, including Crossroads Urban Center, University Neighborhood Partners, AFL-CIO, and the Veterans Affairs hospital.
It was the third “miracle” donation made this year by the nonprofit arm of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. The three-part campaign raises money from individuals and business, uses 100% of the proceeds to buy food from struggling Utah farms, and then distributes the items to residents in need.
“Instead of mourning the barriers in the food supply system,” said Farm Bureau President Ron Gibson, “we’ve gone to work growing a miracle with the Farmers Feeding Utah campaign.”
So far the nonprofit foundation has raised more than $300,000.
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The first round of funds provided 500 live sheep and 16,000 pounds of food to residents of the Navajo Nation in southern Utah. Another $100,000 was used to buy milk, meat, potatoes, cheese and eggs for the pantries in Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties.
Donations to help purchase, process and distribute food to Utah families still can be made at FarmersFeedingUtah.org.
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Kathy Stephenson covers food, dining, alcohol policy and features. A Utah native and University of Utah graduate, she has been a reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune for more than 30 years.