By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Just three days before Thanksgiving, Indiana’s poultry producers united in an effort to help feed hungry Hoosiers during the holidays through a donation of more than 145,000 pounds of product for the state’s food pantries.

“We’re pleased to say we blew away all records this year through a donation of 145,000 pounds of poultry to be distributed in local communities and through the Shepherd Community,” said Paul Brennan, executive director of the Indiana State Poultry Assoc. (ISPA). “We appreciate the opportunity to do this for the past 62 years, it allows us to do what we do best - produce food to help feed the world.”

The donation took place during a ceremony at the State House, with Lt. Governor Becky Skillman presiding over the program. The product consisting of turkey, chicken, duck and eggs will be distributed locally and through the Shepherd Community Center, a faith-based, non-profit organization established in 1985 to break the cycle of poverty in the Indianapolis-area.

“Today we honor state poultry breeders for upholding this longstanding 62-year contribution to Indiana food banks,” said Skillman. “And when we speak of hunger in Indiana, we want to give a well-intended shoutout to our food banks such as the Shepherd Community, who help to distribute and coordinate pickups of product this week.”

Donations were made on behalf of: Berne Hi-Way Hatchery; Creighton Brothers; Culver Duck; Farbest Foods; HyLine, North America; Maple Leaf Farms; Perdue Farms; Miller Poultry; Rose Acre Farms; Tyson Foods; Wabash Valley Produce and Chore-Time Equipment.

“And just a word about the poultry association … how grateful we are for the jobs that you provide and through modern production practices, you help to feed the world with an abundant and affordable food supply,” Skillman added.

“Thanks for this generous contribution today and every day.”
Additionally, Brennan said that throughout the year, ISPA donors have provided over 496,000 dozen eggs, 287,000 pounds of poultry meat for a wholesale value of $126,000 to Indiana food pantries.

In addition to the product donation, the poultry association presented Skillman with the state turkey and a Pysanky Egg for their appreciation of the Daniels Administration’s continued support of Indiana agriculture.

A Pysanky Egg, is a Ukrainan craft tradition of decorating an egg using a wax-resist method. The egg presented to Skillman was decorated with the state flag depicted.