In Missouri’s hills and hollers to the south, fields and forests to the north, and prairies to the west, the hunting community answers the call to help Missourians facing food insecurity.
With their neighbors in need top of mind, hunters voluntarily donate their time, energy and deer tags to the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s (CFM) Share the Harvest program. The donated deer is processed through local processors and then transported to regional food banks, which distribute the protein-rich venison to thousands of people across the state.
That “the meat stays in the community is really impressive,” says Tyler Schwartze, the CFM’s executive director.
Launched in 1992, “the program is a win-win-win,” he continues. “The people who are food insecure get additional protein; the processors help their local communities; and there's less deer across the landscape, which is critical to balancing deer herds and their overall health.”
Founded in 1935, the CFM is a private organization based in Missouri’s capital, Jefferson City. The non-profit unites thousands of sportsmen and sportswomen in the state through their mission to conserve and preserve the state’s outdoor and natural resources.
“We do advocacy and policy work to make sure that our rich outdoor resources are protected for future generations,” Schwartze explains.
For many years, demand for Share the Harvest’s donated venison exceeded capacity. The unique program typically raised funds to cover processing costs for 5,000 deer per year, which yields approximately 200,000 meals.
