A number of food banks and soup kitchens across Southern Manitoba have picked up a donation of pork.

For the sixth year in a row, the Provincial Exhibition has partnered with six Manitoba Co-op’s and five meat processors to deliver approximately 1500 lbs. of pork from the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to several Westman food banks and soup kitchens.

Provincial Exhibition volunteer Lawrence Langlois of Virden, volunteered to care for the pigs that are used in the pig scrambles at the 2016 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Feed for the animals is donated by Co-op Feeds and western Manitoba Co-op retailers, including Heritage Co-op, Neepawa Gladstone Co-op, Valleyview Co-op, Kenton Consumers Co-op and Boundary Co-op.

“Over the last few weeks, the pigs were delivered by our volunteers to Renard’s Meat Services at Virden, Prairie Rose Meats at Souris, Henry Meats in Brandon, Jarvis Meats at Gladstone, and DAL Meats in Killarney.” Said Ron Kristjansson, General Manager of the Provincial Exhibition. “These local meat processors have donated all the processing costs and make sure the meat is delivered to food banks and soup kitchens in their own area.”
The distribution of the meat donation directly relates to the region where the feed and processing sponsors are located to create a direct connection between the feed suppliers and the meat processors.

“We have been able to support groups in need from Portage la Prairie up through Minnedosa, Souris, Brandon, Killarney, Boissevain, Virden and right out towards Moosomin Saskatchewan.” Said Kristjansson. “In Brandon, the meat was donated to helping hands soup kitchen. The direct connection between the meat processors and the organization receiving the pork is a special part of this program and all of the processors have their own relationships with the groups in their area.”

The Provincial Exhibition takes great pride in giving back to the community in this manner. “Support from partners like the Co-ops, the Spruce Woods Colony which sold us the pigs at a very reasonable price, and all of the meat processors allows us the opportunity to use the pigs during the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair for agricultural education, as well as give a valuable food donation to the Westman area. The Provincial Exhibition receives a lot of support from the residents in this area and are proud to be able to support them in return” said Kristjansson.