National Guard troops on duty in our nation’s capital will soon be getting a different taste in the chow line. Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) announced today it will be donating $50,000 to provide roughly 5,000 soldiers with a nutritious meal from Founding Farmers restaurants, based in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Feeding people is what farmers do,” said Doug Sombke, Chairman of FUE, South Dakota Farmers Union President and a fourth-generation farmer. “We appreciate the National Guard protecting our Capitol and democracy. But their service takes them far from their homes and families, so, it’s our hope that a made-from-scratch meal from our farmer-owned restaurants reminds them a bit of their homes and loved ones and shows how much we appreciate their sacrifice.”
“Farmers are about feeding people,” said North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne. “They do important work, just like our troops. This is our way of thanking the Guard for their service in protecting our capitol and democracy. We hope the taste of good made-from-scratch homestyle cooking from our farmer-owned restaurants reminds them that we appreciate their sacrifice and the time they’ve spent away from their families.”
“Farmers are passionate about feeding people – it’s what we do best,” said Walter Schweitzer, President of Montana Farmers Union. “We are very grateful to the National Guard for protecting our capital and our democracy and I was alarmed when I heard our guard was struggling to get healthy food to eat. To show our appreciation we are proud to join our Farmers Union partners to provide the troops a nutritious meal from our farmer-owned restaurants.”
FUE is made up of several Farmers Union-owned businesses in the Upper Midwest – the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union organizations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as FUE programs and National Farmers Union.
Dan Simons, manager of Founding Farmers and Farmers Restaurant Group, said lunch and dinner meals will be delivered next week to the National Guard for distribution through their food service network.
“Heart. Generosity. Farming. Security. Service. The ingredients in this recipe are amazing on their own and even more remarkable together,” Simons said. “My team and I are honored to be able to provide delish meals to those who serve and protect each and every day, and have sincere gratitude to our farmer-owners for their generosity with funding this mission.”
Anyone wishing to donate to this humanitarian effort can do so online through the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation, Montana Farmers Union Foundation, or the North Dakota Famers Union Foundation.
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South Dakota Farmers Union
Montana Farmers Union
North Dakota Farmers Union
Photo Credit: NDFU
