CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — This past summer, 4-H Clubs throughout Ohio collected a record-breaking 448,827 pounds of food to donate to more than 60 food banks across the state, all thanks to the “Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer” competition. This program encourages youth to collect non-perishable food items and donate them to local food banks.

 Competition in the state was divided by regions: South Region, Northeast Region, East Central Region, West Central Region and Northwest Region. The top county 4-H program in each region received $5,000. Second in each received $1,500 while third place in each region received $500.

This year’s overall winner was Ross County 4-H, which collected 122,640 pounds of food over the summer. Ross County competed in the South Ohio Region. Clermont County was second in this region while Brown County finished third.

 That 122,640-pound total shattered expectations by Ross County 4-H leaders.

 “When we first told people we were going for 100,000 pounds of nonperishables and water, people were really skeptical,” said C.J. Jones, a member of the Ross County Junior Fair Board. “But when you work together and trust in God and have a lot of good, strong encouraging people around you, it helps a lot.”

 It also helps to have the county with the state’s largest 4-H contingent.

 “We’re honored and excited to have led the state in the Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer competition,” said Ryan Kline, Ross County 4-H Youth Development Coordinator. “We partially owe this to the strong support from our community and our community partners. It’s also attributed to deep roots of tradition here in our county as we have a lot of family members whose parents and grandparents were in 4-H. The tradition side of this has helped Ross County maintain strong programs.”

 Keeping 4-H in Ross County strong is the task of Kline, who is an alumnus of 4-H in this county.

 “Prior to COVID-19, we had 74 4-H Clubs and just over 1,600 members. Today there are 55 clubs and 1,550 members,” Kline said. “We have a large rural base. The population in the Chillicothe area is about 75,000, with just 25,000 residing in the city limits. Plus, we’re always looking to grow and we’re on the lookout for people who want to start new clubs or help other clubs grow.”

 Fulton County was tops in the Northwest Ohio Region, gathering 13,860 pounds of food. Second in this region was Mercer County and third was Auglaize County.

 “It was truly rewarding to help fill three local food pantries,” said Alysia Callender, Fulton County Junior Fair Board member. “A week before we delivered, the director of one food pantry called to tell us how low their shelves were getting and with the holidays coming up they could really use what we were able to give. To have this impact in three different areas in our county was so extremely rewarding, it was moving to see the Fulton County Junior Fair Board kids load and unload the food knowing that it was helping others in the community.”

 Lorain (Northeast) and Champaign (West Central) counties, both top finishers in 2024, again placed among the leaders in their respective regions, with 52,444 pounds and 18,140 pounds respectively. Stark County and Ashland County finished second and third respectively in the Northeast Region, while Warren County and Greene County were second and third respectively in the West Central Region.

 Hartford Independent (East Central) was tops in its region with 35,961 pounds. Guernsey County and Muskingum County were second and third respectively in this region.

 “This initiative highlights the creativity and leadership of Ohio youth while directly supporting families in need,” said Melanie Strait-Box, Senior Vice President of Agricultural Lending at Farm Credit Mid-America. “With over 1.8 million Ohioans facing food insecurity, it’s inspiring to see young leaders step up and make a difference.”

 This year marks the fourth consecutive year of record donations, with a 57 percent increase over 2024’s total of 286,000 pounds. Since its launch in 2021, the contest has collected and donated more than 950,000 pounds of food.