Governor Brownback signed a proclamation declaring March 23 – 29 as Kansas Agriculture Week and Mar. 25, Kansas Agriculture Day.  A cornerstone of the agriculture celebration is the Neighbor to Neighbor Food Drive.   
The Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive will help support our neighbors in need and reduce hunger in Kansas communities. Harvesters-The Community Food Bank in Topeka, hosted state leaders, including Governor Sam Brownback and Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey, representatives of the food banks of Kansas, Dillon’s Food Stores employees and members of the Kansas agriculture community.
“It is important that we serve. That we help our neighbor in need,” Brownback said during the event held at Harvester’s.
The food drive is a collaborative effort by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Dillon’s Food Stores, Harvester’s – The Community Food Network, Kansas Food Bank, Second Harvest Community Food Bank and the Kansas agriculture community. The goal is to raise 100,000 meals for Kansas families during the food drive which begins March 3 and concludes on March 25, Kansas Agriculture Day. Kansans can contribute to the campaign at Dillon’s Food Stores statewide or at other locations in communities across the state.
Governor Brownback teamed up with staff from the three food banks, Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey and representatives from Dillon’s Food Stores. Members of the Kansas agriculture industry, including Kansas FFA officers and commodity organization representatives also participated. The teams boxed food items for Kansans in need. Governor Brownback’s team put together 105 of boxes in 15 minutes; however, the second team lead by Marsha Boswell of Kansas Wheat filled 112 boxes. The boxes will be distributed to low-income elderly recipients and included items like shelf-stable milk, whole wheat pasta, canned beef, cereal and an assortment of canned fruits and beans.
Dillon’s Food Stores made an initial donation of 6,400 pounds of non-perishable food items at the kick-off event. These food items will be on display in the Kansas State Capitol March 3-25. To learn more about the Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive and ways to participate, visit agriculture.ks.gov/ksagday. Follow along with the conversation during Kansas Ag Week and the Neighbor to Neighbor Food drive via Twitter #n2nks and #ksagday