The Community Food Bank of Mineral County has received a major boost thanks to a generous donation from a local rancher and the efforts of the nonprofit Producer Partnership.

On Oct. 30, the organization delivered 343 pounds of protein to one of the food bank’s temporary distribution sites at Superior Elementary School, 1003 5th Ave. East, while the food bank’s building remains under construction.

The donation came from a local rancher who wished to remain anonymous, motivated by a desire to give back to the community despite rising feed costs. The rancher was referred to Producer Partnership by another donor whose contribution earlier this year benefited the Southwest Montana Veterans Food Bank and Pantry in Deer Lodge.

Producer Partnership Program Manager Jeri Delys said the group loaded up the donation, transported it to its USDA federally inspected owned and operated nonprofit processing facility 15 miles east of Livingston, and processed the meat at no charge. 

“We are proud of the work we’re doing and the impact our program is making across Big Sky Country,” Delys said. “What began as a simple act of generosity by our founder, fifth-generation rancher Matt Pierson, has grown into something truly remarkable.”

The Producer Partnership, the nation’s first and only USDA-inspected, nonprofit-owned and operated processing facility, relies entirely on grants, foundations and private donations rather than state or federal funds. The organization processes livestock donations from ranchers and turns them into top-quality packaged protein for schools, senior centers, veterans’ pantries, and food banks across Montana. 

For ranchers, Delys said, partnering with the Producer Partnership offers both a tax benefit and the satisfaction of helping local families. With commercial processors booked 12-15 months out and feed costs soaring, donating through Producer Partnership provides a meaningful alternative to selling livestock at a loss.

Mineral County Food Bank distribution officer Linda Christoferson said volunteers have been working hard to sort and store the new supply. 

“Our cadre of volunteers are sorting the boxes which are being stored in three or four different freezers as our building isn’t complete,” Christoferson said. “It makes it difficult but thank goodness we have people loaning space.”

In a separate effort, Producer Partnership recently partnered with the Montana Department of Livestock to address a developing issue with feral swine in Phillips County. After approximately 100 pigs were found running uncontained near Malta, state and federal wildlife officials trapped the animals and worked with Producer Partnership to process the meat for food banks rather than destroy it. 

On Oct. 16, the first shipment of 64 pigs arrived at the Livingston-area facility, with another 35 expected in the coming weeks. In total, the operation will produce an estimated 14,000 pounds of pork, enough for about 56,000 meals distributed statewide through the Montana Food Bank Network.

“This could have been a very bad situation,” Delys said. “Instead of this protein going to waste, it will be processed into top-quality protein and fully utilized to help our Montana neighbors.” 

The swine meat, inspected under USDA supervision, will be ground into regular pork, breakfast sausage, and chorizo, using every part of the animal. “We ordered over $1,700 in spices to process the protein,” she said emphasizing that this is where financial donations are greatly appreciated.

Producer Partnership founder Matt Pierson said the project shows how cooperation can turn challenges into opportunities. 

“Our hope through this partnership is that people realize there’s a better way to solve these issues without waste,” Pierson said. “It helps solve a problem for the state and puts all that meat into the food bank.”

Financial contributions to the Producer Partnership can be made securely online at producerpartnership.com/donate.