The Renville County Soybean & Corn Growers and their checkoff dollars are once again supporting community members this summer with a donation of locally sourced pork products for the community food shelf. With students home from school and no longer receiving daily school meals, summer is one of the busiest times of the year for food shelves. 

The Renville County Food Shelf supports around 270 families per month; the board’s donation will provide high-quality protein to community members for two months.  

Pork products such as the brisket bone cut and Minnesota soybeans go hand in hand. Soybean meal makes up 42% of the meal fed to livestock, and an estimated 1.25 million tons of soymeal are required to feed all of Minnesota’s pigs.  

“We know times can be tough in the summer for families to get the resources they need with their students at home,” said Renville County Soybean & Corn Growers President Nathan Serbus. “As farmers it’s our job to feed the world, and that includes families right here in Renville County. That’s why we have been proud to support the Renville County Food Shelf over the years.”   

 The Renville County Food Shelf started with six couples back in 1983 who saw a need in their community to organize a food shelf. The food shelf now is organized by a board comprising one delegate from each of the 10 towns in Renville County. Just last year, the food shelf supported 2,898 distributions, totaling 213,000 pounds of food.  

The Renville County Soybean & Corn Growers Association is affiliated with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, which oversees the investment of soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of approximately 26,000 farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program that requires all soybean producers to pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. This money is used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.