Every August, the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo brings our community together for one of its most time-honored traditions—the 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale. Behind the auction block and the blue ribbons is a spirit of giving that reaches far beyond the fairgrounds. This year, that generosity translated directly into thousands of meals for Flathead County seniors, thanks to the teamwork of local donors, our Agency on Aging, and a nonprofit called The Producer Partnership.
At the 2025 Livestock Sale, the Flathead County Agency on Aging received the donation of two lambs and four hogs from supporters who wanted their animals to benefit seniors in our community. While a gift like that is extraordinary, turning livestock into ready-to-use meals requires a crucial step: processing. This year The Producer Partnership stepped in to offer free processing for any business who purchased livestock and wanted to donate the animal. Nine organizations benefited from the partnership this year, including the Agency on Aging—of which five of the six donated animals were processed by Producer Partnership.
The Producer Partnership, founded in Livingston, Montana, operates the first USDA-inspected, nonprofit-owned meat processing facility in the nation. Their mission is simple but powerful: to connect Montana ranchers, farmers, and 4-H/FFA participants with food banks, meal programs, and nonprofits by donating protein. They process livestock free of charge, turning the generosity of animal donors into nutritious, high-quality meat that goes directly to those in need.
For the Agency on Aging, the partnership played a key part in the donated animals becoming thousands of meals for our Meals on Wheels program. That protein is often one of the most expensive and hardest-to-secure parts of preparing daily meals for homebound seniors. Instead of worrying about how to stretch limited resources, our staff and volunteers could focus on what matters most: delivering hot, healthy meals and a friendly visit to nearly 350 seniors across the valley every weekday.
This collaboration highlights the best of Flathead County—youth involved in agriculture, community members who purchase and donate animals, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity, and our Agency on Aging staff and volunteers who turn it all into tangible care for older neighbors. It’s a cycle of generosity that begins in the show ring and ends at a senior’s kitchen table.
Food insecurity among seniors is a growing concern, but this year’s story shows what’s possible when we work together. Donated livestock helps fill a critical gap in our nutrition program. Each meal served is a reminder that behind every meal is a community that cares.
As we look ahead, we are grateful for the continued support of the fair community, the families who raise and donate livestock, and organizations like The Producer Partnership. Their work ensures that the legacy of agriculture in Montana is not only about raising animals, but also about raising up the people around us.
Because in Flathead County, a blue ribbon at the fair can mean so much more—it can mean food on the table for a neighbor in need.