CIRCLEVILLE, OH – The Pickaway County Fair is stepping up to combat hunger and support local food banks as it joins the fifth annual Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer contest, presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st. Announced on Sunday, June 15, 2025, this statewide competition encourages youth leadership in agriculture while rallying communities to collect food donations.
Since its launch in 2021, the contest has inspired Ohio county fairs to engage young leaders in unique fundraising efforts, from fairground drives to club-level challenges. This year, Pickaway County joins the effort, with donations accepted at the fairgrounds’ Gate D Entrance/East Parking Lot, 415 Lancaster Pike, Ohio 43113. Participants can also contribute fresh protein from livestock auctions, reflecting growing donation trends.
“We’re thrilled to see young people across Ohio step up, and in Pickaway County, the fair is a perfect hub to unite the community for this cause,” said Rudi Pitzer Perry, regional vice president for agricultural lending at Farm Credit Mid-America. The contest has collected over 950,000 pounds of food since its inception, including efforts in Indiana.
Participating fairs receive a $500 award, with top counties in five regions earning additional prizes: $5,000 for first, $1,500 for second, and $500 for third. All prize money supports local agricultural youth programs. “The real winners are the communities we serve,” Perry added, emphasizing the initiative’s role in empowering youth and aiding local families.
Farm Credit Mid-America, a customer-owned cooperative serving over 145,000 customers with a $44.1 billion portfolio, and its consumer lending brand Rural 1st, have invested nearly $4.5 million in rural programs in 2024, including $1.7 million for youth and beginning farmers, with $450,000 supporting Ohio’s next generation of ag leaders.
