When The Idaho Foodbank receives 3,138 pounds of beef on June 15, 2010, it will mark the first shipment to Southeast Idaho from the innovative Beef Counts program. Beef Counts is a unique partnership between the Foodbank and the Idaho Beef Council, the Idaho Cattle Association, the Idaho CattleWomen Council, and Agri Beef Co. that will provide a consistent, sustainable supply of protein-rich beef that the Foodbank will be able to make available to its network of partner agencies.

The cattle industry-food bank partnership is the only one of its kind in the country. Agri Beef Co. has a dual role in this partnership. The company will officially present the foodbank with a check for $50,000, but Agri Beef has donated a total of $250,000 to the foodbank over the past five years. In addition, the company is matching the Beef Counts donations from the Idaho cattle industry to increase the amount of beef in the Beef Counts program.

To read more about this effort, link here.

This is positive industry buzz that shows farmers care about communities and families in need. Has your state or county beef association pursued service projects like this one, or would you consider doing something like this in the future? Share your ideas today!