Hoofin’ It for Hunger raises money for food bank

The Hoofin’ It for Hunger Race held Oct. 7 raised $7,000 for the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN). The event was started in 2011 when the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee (YF&R) decided to hold an event that promoted outdoor exercise, increase awareness about agriculture to a non-farming public, and raise funds to help feed needy families. The MFBN in Missoula secures and distributes donated and low-cost food to nearly 150 hunger relief agencies throughout Montana and is a member of Feeding America. The race, hosted by the Montana YF&R and Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, is held on Fort Keogh’s property where competitors can run over bridges along the river and past agricultural land and livestock. The event features a half-marathon, a 10K, 5K and one-mile walk. Participants of the one-mile walk are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Custer County Food Bank. This year, the local food bank received 120 pounds of donated food. Bill Mathews, executive director, MFBN, noted that since the event was started $44,000 has been raised for the MFBN, which equals 132,000 meals for food insecure Montanans.