Conservation Federation of Missouri Expands Share the Harvest Program with New Partnerships
January 30, 2025
The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is celebrating another great year for its Share the Harvest program, thanks to significant contributions from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) and MFA Incorporated. These generous donations expanded the program’s capacity, enabling hunters to donate more venison than ever before to families in need throughout Missouri.
Share the Harvest connects hunters with local food banks by facilitating venison donations through approved meat processors. This year, the program saw a remarkable increase in participation, with hundreds of additional deer harvested and processed. The result was thousands of pounds of high-quality venison distributed to food-insecure Missourians. The program also helped mitigate crop damage caused by deer in some of the state’s top row-crop regions, benefiting both agriculture and local communities.
“CFM and the Share the Harvest program are thrilled to have the generous support of MSMC and MFA,” said Tyler Schwartze, Executive Director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. “Their contributions have enabled more families to receive nutritious, high-protein meals while also addressing Missouri’s deer population. Share the Harvest continues to be a win-win for everyone involved.”
Agricultural organizations are pleased to play a critical role in this success, showcasing the power of partnerships between farming and conservation groups.
“Missouri farmers care deeply about their communities and are proud to support initiatives that protect their livelihoods while giving back,” said Gary Wheeler, CEO of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. “This program exemplifies agriculture and conservation working hand in hand for the greater good.”
MFA Incorporated echoed the importance of collaboration. “The cooperative model focuses on delivering value to its member-owners and supporting the communities we serve. This partnership is an opportunity to involve more stakeholders in meeting that mission”, stated Ernie Verslues, President and CEO.
Donating venison through Share the Harvest is simple. Hunters can bring their deer to any participating processor and choose how much meat to donate. With this year’s expanded capacity, the program provided more venison than ever before, delivering critical resources to food-insecure communities and addressing agricultural challenges in rural areas.
Since its inception in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided nearly 5 million pounds of venison to families in need. CFM, MSMC, MFA, countless hunters, and other partners such as Feeding Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation have also played a critical role in the program’s success over the years. Share the Harvest exemplifies the power of partnerships to make a meaningful impact across Missouri.