SMITHFIELD, VA. – Farmland Foods, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc., recently announced its second year of its Honoring the Heartland Tour.
Since July, the 12-week event once again has showcased the integral role the Midwest plays by delivering grab-n-go meals in a food truck and providing monetary donations to support the next generation of farmers.
Farmland officials used its food truck during stops at various locations two to three times per week in Midwestern areas.
“Supporting the future of the agriculture industry and providing the next wave of farmers with the tools needed to succeed has been a longstanding commitment of our brand,” said Jessica Scarlett, senior associate brand manager for Farmland. “We are proud to continue the legacy of the Farmland Honoring of the Heartland Tour and our partnership with the National FFA Organization for a second year.”
Throughout the remainder of the tour, Farmland will be donating a total of $150,000 to the National FFA Organization and local FFA chapters, beginning today with a $65,000 donation to the National FFA Organization and a $9,000 donation to the local Kansas FFA Association.
Farmland also launched its Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program to support students in agriculture. Through the program, Farmland will provide $20,000 in financial support via grants valued at $1,000 each.
The company will be focusing on students in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.
“We are grateful for Farmland’s ongoing support of the National FFA Organization’s mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students,” said Molly Ball, president for the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer for the National FFA Organization. “We’re happy to join the brand in recognizing the often-overlooked heroes of farming and agriculture.”
In 2021, the Farmland’s truck served 11,000 Midwest residents and donated more than 160,000 servings of protein to benefit Omaha, Nebraska.