News & Updates

Alasyn Zimmerman​ ​at KIFI Local News 8​ wrote about FHFH in Idaho and the importance of venison donations to feeding programs and food banks in a news story titled “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry ​M​akes ​Donation to Local ​F​ood ​B​anks​.​”  CLICK HERE to read the article.
 
Our FHFH Chapter Coordinator for South East Idaho FHFH, Nate Matlack, is making a difference to those in his community struggling with hunger.  You can find Nate and the rest of our local Chapter Coordinators by CLICKING HERE.  We encourage you to reach out and support them!

 ​The story of how FHFH began is nothing short of amazing!  

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Beginning FHFH With God
by Rick Wilson, FHFH’s Founder and First “Chapter Coordinator” 

It was an early morning in September 20 years ago when I encountered a lady who asked me to help her load a road kill deer into the trunk of her vehicle so she could feed her hungry children. After that encounter I prayed and felt led to start a ministry to feed the hungry.  God then provided two local butchers who would process donated deer at their cost, and I realized I needed HELP!  I asked, Ray Shriver, my pastor of 20 years, if I could begin organizing God’s venison feeding ministry through our church.  He suggested several options, and then invited me to come share the idea with our church leadership.

After getting approval to work through our church along with some seed money from the congregation, the word of our feeding ministry spread rapidly.  As we began receiving deer during Maryland’s archery season we soon began falling behind.  By the end of October, we had depleted the initial funding allocation along with $500 from Pastor Shriver’s discretionary fund and we were $716 in the red!  I stayed after church one 
Sunday to share this financial need with Pastor Ray.  I was hoping that he would say as he had before, “Here’s some money from my discretionary fund,” but instead, he said, “Let’s pray.”  That was not what I wanted to hear! After sharing our need with the Lord, I set about trying to figure out how to raise $716.          

A couple of days later Pastor Ray called and asked if I could stop by his office after I finished teaching school that day.  When I arrived he handed me an envelope and invited me to open it.  As I unfolded a check for $700 from a total stranger, I was ecstatic!  I’ll never forget Ray’s joking comment, “God’s math is not perfect, but it’s close enough for me to know that He is with us.”

Two days later he called me again.  In a somewhat unsure voice he said, “Can you stop by my office after school?”  Upon arriving, he handed me another envelope containing a check for the remaining $16.  Still a little shaky, Pastor Ray said that his earlier days in sales and personnel management taught him a great deal about numbers and probability.  He then asked God to forgive him for questioning His math.  At that point my Best Friend God, Pastor Shriver, my close friend Al Schlotterbeck and I began praying to expand the new ministry.

Al has been like a ‘second dad’ to me since the mid 1950’s when I began crossing through a couple of neighbors’ yards to shoot archery with him.  Having a ‘second dad’ became very important at this time. My father who had been my best hunting and fishing buddy since I was about 6 years old had suffered a series of strokes that summer leaving him in a coma. I kept Dad up to date on our growth by visiting him regularly at the nursing home to describe the progress and pray with him.

After two hunting seasons the ministry outgrew the church, so we established FHFH as a separate non-profit organization.  Twenty years later, FHFH has grown from its humble beginnings in Washington County, Maryland with one coordinator and a small dedicated group of individuals to a national organization.  We now have 125 Chapter Coordinators in 29 states and the District of Columbia who are united with one mission – feeding the hungry among us.

We recently received this note of thanks from Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, DC.

To Whom It May Concern: 

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry reached out to us in 2016 and has been a significant partner for our protein supply in 2016. As the Executive Chef, I am grateful for the partnership and steady supply of high-quality proteins to our guests. 

Miriam’s Kitchen is committed to ending chronic homelessness in DC by creating meaningful connections with chronically homeless individuals, placing them in permanent supportive housing, and ensuring they have the necessary support to remain in housing. We advocate for permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution, while meeting short-term needs by providing healthy meals and high quality social services to more than 2,500 chronically homeless individuals each week. 

We use about two hundred pounds of meat a week at our operation, all of which comes from donations. If we could continue to have a consistent supply of venison to help offset this large need, it would benefit our guests and the organization greatly. The chef team at Miriam’s Kitchen would be happy to continue to use any and all venison donations we could get from FHFH. The work they are doing not only benefits those who are most in need of the dignity of a restaurant-quality meal, but also betters the environment and DC community at large. 

With gratitude, 
Cheryl R. Bell 
Executive Chef 
Miriam’s Kitchen 

Horseradish Crusted Venison Top Sirloin with Black Currant Sauce and Caraway Seed Spaetzle Gratin

By Bobbie Jo Wasilko
He Hunts She Cooks

A roasted venison top sirloin (aka “football roast”) is topped with a horseradish panko crust and served with an easy black currant sauce.  The sweetness from the sauce is a great foil for the bite of horseradish.  Add a side of homemade creamy cheesy caraway seed spaetzle and Sunday dinner just reached a whole new level!  

​Ingredients

For the Venison

1. 1-two pound aged Venison Top Sirloin (aka “football roast”)
2. 1 tbs. Fresh Cracked Pepper
3. 1 tbs. Kosher Salt
4. 1 tsp. Juniper Berries (crushed)
5. 1 tsp. Caraway Seed
6. 6 tbs. Prepared Horseradish (you can serve extra horseradish mixed with a little mayonnaise along side the roasted meat, if desired)
7. 1/3-1/2 cup Panko (Japenese Breadcrumbs)
8. 1/4 cup Grape Seed Oil ( or canola oil, or olive oil) plus a few tablespoons for searing

For the Black Currant Sauce

1. 1 cup Venison Stock (or veal stock, I use More Than Gourmet brand)
2. 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine
3. 1 Shallot, minced
4. 3 tbs. Black Currant Preserves
5. 1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper
6. 1 tbs. Butter

For the Caraway Seed Spaetzle

1. 1-1/2 cups AP Flour
2. 3 Eggs
3. 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
4. 2 tbs. Caraway Seed

For the Gratin

1. 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
2. 1/2 cup Gruyere Cheese (or Emmantaler, or other Swiss cheese)
3. 1 Beaten Egg
4. 1/2 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
5. 2 tbs. Butter, melted

For the Venison

1. 24 hours ahead, trim venison of all silver skin and coat with pepper, salt, crushed juniper berries, and caraway seed and place in a zip lock bag.
2. Pour 1/4 cup oil into the bag.
3. Refrigerate overnight.

To Cook the Venison

1. Remove the venison from the fridge 1 hour before serving to bring to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Heat a cast iron (or oven safe pan) over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons oil.
4. Quickly sear the venison on all sides.
5. Turn off the heat, and smear the horseradish over top and sides of the venison.
6. Top the horseradish with panko and place, uncovered, into the oven.
7. Roast the venison to no more than medium-rare, about 10 minutes.
8. Serve with black currant sauce.

**For the Black Currant Sauce

1. Heat 2 tbs. oil in a sauce pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add minced shallot and sauté for 2 minutes.
3. Add the stock and red wine, black pepper and simmer until reduced by 2/3, about 45 minutes.
4. *This can be done the day ahead and refrigerated.
5. Just before serving, add the black currant preserves to the reduced stock.
6. Add 1 tbs. butter to give the sauce some shine.
7. Serve with venison.

For the Caraway Seed Spaetzle

1. *They can be made the day ahead and assembled and then refrigerated and brought to room temp. before baking.
2. Mix flour, eggs, salt and caraway seed and set aside for half hour (this is to create a thick batter).
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add 1 tbs. Kosher salt.
4. Using a spaetzle maker, add the dough, about 1/2 cup at a time and press down on the plunger over the pot of water to create the noodles.
5. Once the spaetzle noodles rise to the top (about 30 seconds), remove them to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
6. Continue adding batter to the pot until all the spaetzle are cooked.

For the Gratin

1. Once all the Spaetzle noodles are cooked, butter the inside of 4-6 ounce ramekins.
2. Grate the gruyere cheese add the beaten egg and heavy cream into a bowl and mix.
3. Add the cooked spaetzle and divide between the 4 ramekins.
4. Melt the butter and mix with the panko then top the ramekins with the crumbs.
5. Bake in a 300 degree oven for approximately 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Notes

1. Spaetzle makers are quite inexpensive and cost from $6 up. A “ricer” makes a great spaetzle maker also. A colander with large holes can be used as a substitute, but you will need a helper to hold colander over the boiling water while you add the batter and scrape across the colander to push the batter through the holes, to create the noodle shapes.
2. You can substitute making the homemade spaetzle for a bag of pre-made spaetzle, or extra wide egg noodles, or macaroni and just boil them and then add the caraway seed to the cheese gratin.
3. The spaetzle can be boiled and cooled then assembled into the ramekins the day ahead, and refrigerated, then bring to room temp before baking. If refrigerating, bake a bit longer since they’ll be cold to start.
4. Sautéed cabbage makes a great side dish (I was out of cabbage at the time, or I would have used it.)
5. **The Black Currant Sauce: Can be made the day ahead, and reheated over low heat for serving.

FHFH welcomes Amy Cawley who joins the FHFH team as our newest Chapter Coordinator.  Amy is the Chapter Coordinator for Mid-Shore FHFH in Maryland.

You can find Amy and the rest of our local Chapter Coordinators by CLICKING HERE.  We encourage you to reach out and support them!

Integrity Outdoors:  Serving Hunting and Fishing Businesses While Supporting a Great Cause

April 20, 2017

Integrity Payment Systems is proud to announce Integrity Outdoors. Inspired by the passion of CEO & President, Mike Ponder, Integrity Outdoors serves merchants in the hunting and fishing industry. Integrity Outdoors provides cutting edge payment processing solutions, exceptional customer service, and a dedication to serving the outdoors community, including a commitment to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

As part of Integrity Outdoors, merchants in the hunting and fishing industries can support the causes near to their hearts without spending a penny of their own money. When a business owner signs up for Integrity Outdoors, Integrity will match current processing fees and donate a large portion of Integrity’s own net revenue from each participating merchant transactions to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. FHFH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides nutritious meat to families and individuals in need and ministries that help those in need by paying local butcher shops to process deer and livestock that are donated by farmers and hunters.

“Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is an organization that we proudly support through Integrity Outdoors,” said Mike Ponder, President & CEO of Integrity. “It is of the utmost importance to me as an avid and passionate outdoorsman to use our business to build back into the communities we serve while supporting the businesses that serve the outdoors industry. This is a win-win-win for all involved.”

Additionally, Integrity Outdoors will promote participating merchants online at no cost to encourage community members and local customers to shop with them.

Updates, information about participating businesses, and information on industry trends are available by following Integrity Outdoors on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH)
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) is committed to addressing America’s hunger problem in a unique and relevant way. Established in 1997, FHFH enables hunters and farmers in states nationwide to provide nutritious meat to feed the hungry of their communities by working with meat processors, local food banks and feeding ministries to share their bounty.

About Integrity
Integrity is a full service payment solutions provider with merchant customers in all 50 states leveraging a suite of products and services including EMV technologies, terminals, POS integrations, and secure payment gateways. Integrity is headquartered in Des Plaines, IL. Mike Ponder, CEO & President, is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the Safari Club International, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Sportsmen’s Alliance, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and Delta Waterfowl. Learn more at integritypays.com.

If you are interested in signing up to participate in Integrity Outdoors, visit http://www.integritypays.com/outdoors or contact us at 866-988-4882.

FHFH was at the Ohio Deer and Turkey Expo at the State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio March 17-19, 2017.  

​FHFH Coordinators set up a booth to display shirts and hats, and raffled off muzzle loaders and trail cameras.
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The expo was a weekend full of fun for everyone who loves hunting, fishing and the great outdoors!

The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. has awarded $1,500 in grant funding to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Youth Hunter Initiative.

The FHFH Youth Hunter Initiative will encourage young hunters in the 12-24 year age range to provide a service to the less fortunate of the community by participating as deer donors to supply much needed meat to the programs in the Washington County community that assist in poverty (hunger) relief with youth and families.  Providing this opportunity to serve others will help our youth become good citizens who contribute to the well-being of others in their community.

The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. was created by and for the people of Washington County, MD, and exists to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, now and for generations to come, by building community endowments, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

On behalf of those in Washington County who struggle with hunger, we thank the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. for their generosity and support of our mission to end hunger.

FHFH began twenty years ago in Washington County, Maryland with two local meat processors – Ernst Market in Clear Spring and Holsinger’s Meat Market in Maugansville.

Rick Wilson, Founder of FHFH, recounts how these two meat processors began partnering with FHFH 20 years ago to help feed the hungry.
 
“Chance Meeting With Greg Ernst”

The day after I had stopped to help a lady load a road kill deer into the trunk of her car to feed her hungry family, my wife and I stopped for lunch after church.  I encountered my friend Greg Ernst who had butchered many of my family’s deer. After telling him what had happened the day before, I asked Greg if he would consider butchering deer donated by hunters in the area if I could raise the processing fees.  He not only said yes enthusiastically, but he also said he would process them for his actual cost.

“Same Question for Bob Holsinger” 

The next day, on the way home from teaching, I stopped at Holsinger’s Meat Market to speak with the owner, Bob Holsinger, who had also butchered many of our family’s deer.  After asking Bob the same question I asked Greg Ernst he replied, “Do you think I would charge my retail butchering cost to feed the Lord’s deer to His hungry children? I’m not going to stand before Jesus one day and try to explain why I did that.”  The eight to ten other customers in his shop chuckled as I slowly headed to the door with a sheepish grin on my face.

We give thanks to all of our participating meat processors for partnering with FHFH to help feed the hungry, and special thanks to Ernst Market and Holsinger’s Meat Market for partnering with FHFH for the past 20 years!