WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon and his wife, Georganne, helped unload 250 pounds of donated venison on Wednesday to help feed needy families. Nixon is promoting the state's Share the Harvest program that lets deer hunters donate venison to be processed and distributed through food pantries.

Nixon says the program gives hunters a chance to help fellow Missourians get fresh meat into their diets. The program has been given state incentives and has been expanded.

Over the next three years, officials hope to boost the number of processing donated meat from 125 to 135. They hope to increase the venison that is donated from 265,000 pounds to 458,000 pounds.

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News release from governor's office:

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- Share the Harvest, a public-private partnership that provides meat to families in need across Missouri, expects to increase its annual collection of venison by more than 75 percent over the next three years, using economic incentives detailed today by Gov. Jay Nixon. 

Gov.
Nixon and First Lady Georganne Wheeler Nixon were in West Plains today to help unload about 250 pounds of venison donated by Missouri hunters through the Share the Harvest.  After unloading the meat, the Governor spoke about the importance of the program.

“Hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation are important Missouri traditions, and vital parts of our cherished way of life,” said Gov. Nixon, who shot a deer in Pulaski County on Monday and contributed the meat to Share the Harvest.  “Share the Harvest is a wonderful way for Missourians to continue that tradition, by providing fresh, nutritious meat for their neighbors in need.  I thank all the hunters across Missouri who also contributed their venison to Share the Harvest.  This program really makes a difference for the people
of the Show-Me State.”

Administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Share the Harvest encourages hunters to donate their deer to needy Missourians.  Share the Harvest reimburses participating meat
processors for a portion of the cost of butchering and packaging whole deer donated by Missouri hunters. 

To participate, hunters simply take their deer to an approved processing plant and indicate how much venison they wish to contribute, ranging from a few pounds to a whole deer.  Local processors store the venison until it is transported to a local distributing agency, such as a food pantry, homeless shelter or feeding center.  For each whole deer contributed to Share the Harvest, the Conservation Federation reimburses local processors at a rate established each year.

“During this time of year, it’s especially important that we have a reliable supply of food for those in need, but unfortunately, meats and proteins are among the hardest items to keep in stock,” said Paul Kiger, director of the First Baptist Church Food Pantry in West Plains.  “Share the Harvest helps us meet a critical need for our community, and we appreciate the generosity of those who make this program possible.”

Because of limited financial resources, the Conservation Federation in 2007 was forced to place a cap on the total number of deer Share the Harvest can accept annually.  Once an individual processor’s cap has been reached, the processor must turn away potential contributions of deer. 

Under Gov. Nixon’s leadership, the Missouri Department of Economic Development has approved Share the Harvest for about $200,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program economic incentives.  The Neighborhood Assistance Program provides these incentives to support the work of non-profit organizations in endangered or underserved communities. 

Conservation Federation officials project that with these additional resources, they will be able to generate sufficient private contributions to expand the number of Share the Harvest processors from 125 last season to 135 over the next three years; boost the number of deer processed from 4,729 to 8,169; and increase the pounds of venison distributed from 265,138 to 457,464.

“Each year, I am amazed by the generosity of Missouri hunters, and I’m thrilled that we’ll be able to expand Share the Harvest in the years to come,” said Dave Murphy, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.  “Gov. Nixon’s support of Share the Harvest means we will be able to accept more deer and deliver that meat to families in need in every corner of the state.  Share the Harvest is a win for hunters, the environment, and those in need.  The hunting and conservation community thanks Gov. Nixon for his leadership and support.”

A complete list of participating meat processors is available on the Missouri state Web site.  Missourians can simply point their browsers to www.MO.gov and search for “Share the Harvest.”