Fighting hunger in Harrison County – one pig at a time

Livestock sales are a pinnacle moment at county fairs, bringing community together to support and celebrate local 4-H youth. In Harrison County, this summer ritual also brings community together to support our neighbors facing food insecurity.

In 2024, HCCF debuted its Fill the Freezer campaign, inviting buyers at the Harrison County Fair’s Junior Livestock Sale to donate their hog purchases to fill the freezers of the county’s food pantries and fight hunger – one pig at a time.

In its first year, Fill the Freezer saw 19 hogs donated, generating 3,739 pounds of sausage to feed Harrison County residents. In 2025, 21 hogs were donated, providing 4,080 pounds of locally raised protein.

HCCF’s 2026 Fill the Freezer campaign will be held Friday, June 26. EOG Resources and South Central Power are serving as corporate sponsors of HCCF’s Fill the Freezer campaign and covering a portion of the meat processing costs.

HCCF’s Fill the Freezer campaign is held in partnership with the Harrison County Fair Board, local 4-H and FFA members, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, local food pantries and meat processors.

Learn more

For more information about Harrison County’s Fill the Freezer campaign, email Harrison@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.

Filling the freezers of food pantries across the region

In 2025, seven of FAO’s affiliate foundation partners spearheaded or supported Fill the Freezer campaigns, which was piloted in the region in 2021 by the Community Foundation for Perry County. In 2025 alone, more than 33,000 pounds of meat were donated through these programs, which are expanding to additional counties this year. Learn more about Fill the Freezer efforts across Appalachian Ohio.