Stock Growers Launch Seventh Annual Beef Drive on Behalf of Saskatchewan Food Banks

Media Release
For Immediate Release
Dec 14, 2022

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) has launched its seventh annual Beef Drive for the Food Banks of Saskatchewan. This year’s goal is to surpass last year’s total by collecting over 12,000 pounds in beef in addition to direct financial donations made by our members.

It’s a tall order, but the SSGA is confident the province’s beef producers will come through.

“The food banks rely on the people of Saskatchewan to help out their neighbours, and we’re happy to pitch in and do our bit,” said SSGA president Garner Deobald.

“This is something our members can do to help make sure people have enough good food to eat,” he said. “This is our seventh year donating healthy and nutritious Saskatchewan-grown beef in support of the province’s food banks and people in need.”

Cargill Ltd. is returning as this year’s Beef Drive sponsor. Cargill will match cash donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000.00.

“Now in our fifth year as a sponsor, we are grateful again to see the difference our industry can make when we work together to bring wholesome nutritious food to Saskatchewan food banks,” said Shannon Borden, Additives Commercial Leader, Canada, Diamond V.”

Michael Kincade, Executive Director, Food Banks of Saskatchewan, commended the SSGA on this year 2022 being their seventh year of continued support to help feed Saskatchewan residents with food insecurities across the province.  “Farmers and ranchers have always stepped up and helped their neighbours and friends in times of need and in 2022 they donated 11,519 pounds of ground beef which equates to more than $65,000 worth.”

Communities across Saskatchewan will benefit from their kind donation of fresh meat, a hard to come by commodity in most food banks, Kincade said.

“We send a huge thank you out to Saskatchewan farmers, SSGA, Cargill, and the processors for their generosity and their commitment to provide an exceptional source of protein to people who need it the most. Partnerships like this demonstrate the impact that can be achieved when we work together to address hunger in our communities,” he said.

SSGA initiated its first Beef Drive on World Food Day in the fall of 2016 as a way for beef producers to support the 36 food banks in Saskatchewan. Producers or individuals can donate an animal or make a cash donation to help cover the processing costs of the donated animals.

Saskatchewan’s beef producers have contributed generously during the six previous beef drives. To date, over 50,000 pounds of ground beef have been collected for the Food Banks of Saskatchewan. This carries a retail value of almost a quarter million dollars.

For more information or to make a donation to the Beef Drive, contact the SSGA office at (306) 757-8523.

Meat Specifications

• Any fresh/frozen meat food donations coming to the Food Bank must be processed through a registered abattoir, inspected (provincial or federal) and packaged to CFIA standards (labelled and dated)
• Accepting 1 lb packages of regular or lean ground beef
• Needs to be professionally processed & packaged
• Temperature control must be maintained at temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius or colder and distributed in their original, unopened packaging.

Charitable Tax Receipts

• Tax receipts will be issued by the Food Bank for any donations over $10.
• Animal donations will be calculated based on the number of pounds of ground beef multiplied by the current fair market value.
• Stats Canada fair market value for hamburger for October is $12.36/kg.

Donations