Another year, more Doe Derby success.
This time several county Farm Bureaus led efforts to help reduce the Michigan deer population and address childhood food insecurity via Doe Derbies, or statewide initiatives that allow hunters to donate deer and provide nutritious meat for food banks, helping to manage deer populations and reduce crop damage.
Set last April, the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Family of Companies’ Venison Donation Task Force allocated $60,000 to fund several donation events in December and January, including for Antrim, Livingston, Osceola, Ogemaw/Iosco and Shiawassee county Farm Bureaus.
In Kalamazoo County, more than 100 Farm Bureau members collected 178 doe, or 14,000 pounds of venison, which “are now out of our fields, off the roads and will be in the freezers of our community members who are food insecure,” said Sarah Pion, southwest advanced regional manager for MFB. Pion said Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau also raised $5,000 to assist with the deer processing, which will be donated to area food banks, including Loaves and Fishes in Kalamazoo.
Elsewhere, Antrim County Farm Bureau partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to collect 25 deer and $8,000, which now heads to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The donations support DNR's Hunters Feeding Michigan program.
“Events like the Kalamazoo and Antrim Doe Derbies bring our social mission to life by delivering high-quality protein — one of the most in-demand items at food banks — to families in need, including those in rural areas where access to protein is often limited,” said Audrey Carey, community engagement specialist for MFB.
“Not only are they combating childhood hunger but also serve as a model for other county Farm Bureaus and communities looking to make a meaningful, multifaceted impact. Now in its second year, Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau is leading the way in venison donation, gaining valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that will help others learn from their successes.”
Total donation numbers for other county Farm Bureaus will be updated when received.
According to a Feeding America study, 19% of Michigan children (402,680) were food insecure in 2023.
Nationally, nearly 14 million children experienced food insecurity in 2023, an increase of 435,000 kids from the prior year. To learn more about food insecurity, click here.
To learn more about how your county Farm Bureau can help, contact Carey directly.
