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"We could see what was happening in April 2020," Matt
says. "Shelter-in-place orders, food insecurity, and the
impact it was having on our community in Livingston. A
member of our crew said, 'It's too bad we have all this
food walking around.' Later it dawned on me. We have
older animals to cull and the ability to make a difference
right now. I called my neighbors. Within the hour, we
had six spots reserved at a local processor – who was
happy for the business back then – and more than
enough animals to fill the spots."
The Park County Community Foundation Board quickly
helped Matt secure $3,500 in COVID-19 relief funds
to help pay for processing. The foundation agreed to
manage the money. The local Spur Line Supply store in
Livingston sent an email to their customers asking for
animals. Ranchers who couldn't give cows gave money
instead. In just ten days the local community raised
more than $12,000 and donated the first 800 pounds
of beef to local food banks.
And it didn't take long for news to spread. When a
Bozeman TV station aired the story, Matt received a
call from Dan Walker in Missoula. The two had never
met before. Dan started his 30-year career with the
inception of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He
introduced himself as Producer Partnership's first
board member. Matt didn't know he needed a board
back then, but he said yes to anyone willing to invest
in the mission.
Working to end hunger in Montana.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit rural Montana hard in 2020. With many residents out of work, and food
banks struggling to meet record demand, rancher Matt Pierson was compelled to donate meat from a
cow he planned to cull from the herd. The ripple effect from this one act of kindness – and Matt's get
"stuff" done attitude – inspired a wave of generosity and support. The Producer Partnership of farmers
and ranchers was formed as the pandemic shuttered communities and economies across the globe.
Since then Producer Partnership has donated nearly 100,000 pounds of free ground beef to Montana
families and just opened the first nonprofit meat-processing facility in the nation.
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