One of the best things about living in the country is that you can learn to know people easily. And when there is a need in the community, you can respond more quickly. There is more incentive to roll up your sleeves and help solve problems, because you know the people in need.
During his work with farmers for over 40 years, Keith Turner saw a need to assist farmers who were having distressed financial challenges. He rolled up his sleeves to help, and through education programming and coaching on improved financial management techniques, he has impacted agricultural producers throughout Virginia and in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. In one instance, he met with a dairy farm’s owners to develop a plan to improve operations, increase revenues and lower expense. As a result, the farm was saved.
The Farm Ministry program that Keith founded for this work was expanded with a Pork for the Pantry in 2016 to support 4H/FFA youth livestock programs. They purchase pork from youth selling through local county fair livestock shows. Local companies process the pork, and the fresh meat is donated to local food pantries for distribution.
Another Farm Ministry, the Cheese Ministry, started in 2017. Cheese made from locally produced milk (supporting local dairy farmers), is purchased and distributed to food pantries to provide high-quality protein food for people in need.
In 2022, Farm Ministry’s newest program, Beef Ministry, began with distribution of premium quality beef. The meat is purchased directly from local beef producers and distributed to food pantries. In 2022-2023 it expanded beef distribution into 22 counties of Virginia, including six counties in Appalachia in Kentucky and West Virginia.
Now, an expanded Beef Ministry called Operation Beef is in the works to aid veterans. Lacey Spring Food Pantry has become aware that there are local veterans who need food assistance. They also learned that some veterans are reluctant to ask for help for themselves.
Keith knows about veterans’ experiences from his father, the late Gifford Turner. At the March 26 announcement of the expanded Operation Beef program, Keith shared, “Dad [Gifford] was a World War II combat veteran. He began and ended the war in a Sherman medium 35-ton tank. He was in heavy fighting and said, ‘I saw enough blood in the war to last a lifetime.’ Dad said, ‘I realize a little more than others do about what freedom means. We fought through 5 countries in Europe. I witnessed firsthand what happened to countries that lost their freedom.’” Keith went on to say “Dad was one of the countless number of soldiers who were ordinary people placed into a war which required extraordinary actions, through great sacrifice and perseverance to liberate countries who had lost their freedom.”
Until later in life, Gifford only talked about his war experiences with other veterans because some memories were too painful to discuss with civilians. Gifford helped establish Chimney Rock VFW Post 9660 with 105 other charter members where “the veterans could share their experiences to help each other through the challenges and difficulties of dealing with the memories of World War II. The veterans found comfort and a new strength through togetherness and helping each other,” Keith explained.
Keith announced that the bond of veterans helping veterans has inspired Chimney Rock VFW Post 9660 to work with Lacey Spring Food Pantry and Operation Beef to serve more veterans in the area. The VFW will have veteran volunteers pick up food at the food pantry and deliver to veterans who are not able to come to the pantry. “Food delivery to a homebound veteran by a volunteer veteran provides for a valuable connection and camaraderie to support the homebound veteran mentally and emotionally.” The Lacey Spring Food Pantry is currently serving 20 veterans, and with the help of Operation Beef to supply the meat and VFW volunteers to deliver, that number is expected to increase to 35 veterans in the northern and northwestern Rockingham County area. Plans are underway to expand the program into neighboring counties as well.
The programs under the non-profit Farm Ministry umbrella—Beef Ministry, Cheese Ministry, Pork for the Pantry, and farmers’ educational program—are run by volunteers. No salaries are paid. All donations go directly to getting food to those who need it. Not only is it volunteer-run, but it is also operated through donations from individuals and businesses. Keith emphasized that they make a small amount of money go a long way.
They have provided a quarter of a pound of meat and cheese protein for over 854,744 meals. The total value of the cheese, beef, milk, eggs, and meats distributed is over $1,748,588.
In addition to the food ministries, The Farm Ministry aids in natural disaster response to farmers. In early April, they coordinated delivery of a 53’ trailer load of lumber from Neff Lumber Mills to Spruce Pine, NC. Arlin Benner, their North Carolina Disaster Relief Coordinator, drove the tractor trailer. Arlin has delivered a lot of loads to flood victims in NC. Broadway/Timberville Ruritan Club made the donation to purchase the oak lumber to be used by farmers to rebuild livestock and hay sheds destroyed by the flood in western North Carolina. Neff Lumber donated through the reduction of the price of the lumber.
It takes many hands to make a program like Operation Beef successful. If you would like to volunteer for any aspect of Operation Beef, including making donations, contact The Farm Ministry at www.thefarmministry.org or Lacey Spring Food Pantry (540) 820-2331, or Chimney Rock VFW Post 9660 (540) 435-7617.
Their mission is “To provide nutritious food to those in need while supporting local farmer producers.” Or in other words, People helping People.
