AFR/OFU Youth Program Helps Children in Need

More than 130 American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) 2015 Leadership Summit attendees once again teamed up with Kids Against Hunger to help fight hunger in the United States and abroad. Kids Against Hunger is a humanitarian food-aid organization with a mission to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the U.S. and to feed starving children throughout the world.

For the second year the Summit project was to prepare and package “fortified rice-soy protein meal packages” for hungry children. Teen Session attendees packaged over 36,000 meals during their service project and Senior Session packaged more than 64,000 meals in under two hours. Between the two sessions, Summit attendees packaged more than 100,000 meals for children in Oklahoma, the United States and the world.

The packaged meals consist of long-grain rice, crushed soy, blended dehydrated vegetables and vitamin and mineral powder, and contains all nine essential amino acids. Each bag has a shelf life of at least three years and, when boiled, can feed six children. The average package of food from the Leadership Summit project will be eaten in less than three months.

The service project took place at the annual AFR/OFU Leadership Summit July 26 – August 1. The retreat develops leadership skills in junior high and high school youth that will prepare them for future educational and professional experiences. All Oklahoma students entering grades 7-9 are eligible to attend the Teen Leadership Summit. Senior Leadership Summit is offered to students entering grades 10-12. 

For more information on the Summit or other AFR/OFU youth opportunities, contact the AFR/OFU Youth & Education Coordinator.