Shooting Hunger is Back

Amy Beckham: Shooting Hunger is Back. Hello there and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Amy Beckham.

Miles Beeler: Shooting, having fun and raising money for a great cause.

Amy Beckham: Well, this year’s Shooting Hunger officially kicked off on Friday in West Tennessee at Carroll County Shooting Sports Park where folks in the agriculture industry and many others gathered to support feeding hungry Tennesseans. That was Miles Beeler of the McKenzie Shooting Team. And just like Miles, Robert Hill of Lauderdale County was proud to shoot and support the cause.

Robert Hill: I think it’s a great opportunity to teach the local young farmers that we as an organization get involved with local things not just on a state level. And this is a fun event. It’s one that’s usually easy to find people that we’re all kind of caught up hopefully this time of year.

Amy Beckham: Hill serves as a member of the young farmers and ranchers state committee and has participated in this event for several years. Shooting Hunger was started back in 2015 and is hosted today by Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Farm Credit Mid America and Rural 1st, and the program aims to raise funds for those in need. Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry expands on how the program has grown through the years

Andy Dickson: Who knew it was gonna turn out when we started it. Just one of those examples you know you try something for a good cause. And we started this several years ago with one event, and now here just a few years later, we’re up to three events and people are asking for more. It just really warms your heart to be able to do a good thing for people that are in need and that’s what farmers do. We’re just built to feed hungry people and it’s just a perfect match.

Amy Beckham: And this year, the money raised from all three events will be distributed among all 95 counties to be given to local backpack programs. Carroll County Shooting Sports Park has been hosting our West Tennessee event for some time now and we’re grateful for their facility. Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson comments on the event in his community.

Andy Dickson: I think this is the seventh year y’all have been here with us West Tennessee. It’s just an awesome way to be able to put food back in our food pantries to make sure that the folks around here have an opportunity to pick up meals or to do things like that where folks won’t go hungry. So thankful for everybody coming out.

Amy Beckham: For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Amy Beckham.