Cooper Farms donates to Ohio food banks

Cooper Farms information

FORT RECOVERY — Cooper Farms celebrated the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday Friday as it hosted legislators from Ohio and Indiana. Gary Cooper shared updates about the growth of the poultry and pork farm with legislators and took them on a tour of turkey farms. Following the tours, Cooper Farms presented a donation of 5,258 pounds of meat, on behalf of the legislators, to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

Cooper Farms and the Cooper family have always made a point to give back to their communities. The company donated over 190,000 pounds of meat to non-profit organizations in 2014. The company regularly contributes to local non-profit organizations both monetarily and through meat donations. Friday’s donation will stay mostly in the western Ohio area.

“We are fortunate to be the able to produce the protein that is at the center of the table for this holiday,” said Gary Cooper. “In the spirit of Thanksgiving we see this as an opportunity to provide others with something that will maybe make their holiday just a little more bright.”

“This generous donation from Cooper Farms is an incredible testament to the vital role our local farmers, growers and producers play in making sure everyone has access to nutritious food,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “By donating this nutritious, protein-packed turkey, Cooper Farms has given not just food, but also hope, to families who are struggling in their community. We can’t say thank you enough for their leadership and generosity.”

While the legislators were visiting, they had the opportunity to learn more about turkey farming and visit two barns. Because of recent illnesses across the country, animal health is a top priority, so viewing rooms built on barns allowed the legislators to see the animals and the entire barn through glass windows, ensuring better bird health.

“It’s great being able to show our legislators and their staff what a turkey farm actually looks like and what we do on a daily basis,” said Cooper. “Today, only 3 percent of people have any connection to farming, so the more we can share our story with others, the better. And what better time than Thanksgiving, when turkeys are at the top of everyone’s mind.”