Texas Farm Bureau and Ronald McDonald team up for Food Check-Out Day

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

On Food Check-Out Day, Kenneth Dierschke, president of the Texas Farm Bureau, shows off all of the donated canned goods that will be sent to the Ronald McDonald House in Temple. The TFB not only donated non-perishable food items, but it also held a chili cookoff to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. Photo by Mindy Poehl

Feb. 17, 2005 - A triangular shaped pile of food, consisting of canned goods and non-perishable food items, stood in the center of the Texas Farm Bureau lunch room in Waco. The smell of brewing beef and spices also filled the air.

Last week, Farm Bureau members across the nation observed Food Check-Out Day on Monday, Feb. 7. Food Check-Out Day is the celebration of the abundance of food from America's farms and ranches.

"The purpose of today is to bring awareness to the safe food supply in Texas and share our prosperity," said Kenneth Dierschke, president of the TFB.

Many Farm Bureau groups made food donations to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Ronald McDonald Houses provide a "home-away-from-home" for the families of seriously ill children being treated at nearby hospitals. Donations such as these provide families staying at the houses with the much needed foods, so they can concentrate on caring for their children and not so much time worrying about what to eat.

With 13 Ronald McDonald Houses in Texas, located near major hospitals, the TFB donated their goods to the Ronald McDonald House in Temple.

"The families prepare their own meals and the people have to eat while they are there," Gene Hall, TFB information and public relations director, said.

All of the TFB employees and TFB county leaders brought food donations. A chili cook-off was also held to raise money to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

Tables around the room were decorated to different themes for each team's chili. The teams were made up of TFB employees and the judges of the chili and dessert were local farmers and ranchers and TFB county members.

"Last year we earned around $700 in cash," Hall stated. "And we donated about $2,500 worth of food for this event."

The teams were presented with awards for best chili, best dessert and best table decorations.

"As farmers and ranchers, we want to share in our bounty," Hall summarized. "We thank our neighbors for bringing the food from the farm to the table."

Dessert Winners

• 1. Rene Martin with Pecan Pie
• 2. Sarah Packwood with Chocolate Pecan Fudge
• 3. Irma Henderson with Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Table Decorations

• 1. Texas Finest
• 2. Gunsmoke
• 3. Spice Chicks

Chili Winners

• 1. Simmering Sisters; Roslyn Melde, Linda Klaus and Tina Duty
• 2. The Spice Chicks; Rena Ashley
• 3. The Heartburners; Mary Jane Markowski