4-Hers feed the farmers while the farmers feed the world

Westside Hustlers is one of the largest 4-H clubs in Boone County and is led by Sara Bryan and Kelli Burdettte.  

The Westside Hustlers  “Feed the Farmer” fundraiser started in October 2003 at the West Central elevator in Beaver, Iowa. Club members and leaders have continued the tradition since that time.  Today the elevator is run by Landus Cooperative.    

Kim Rinker, whose son Skyler Rinker was a club member at the time, had originally come up with the idea after hearing of a few other clubs doing this at other West Central coops.  Kim at the time was working part time at the Beaver elevator and approached Mari Lynn Heineman, the current Leader of Westside Hustlers, about the idea. Marcus Heineman, a Westside Hustler member, presented the idea to the club and the rest is history.

The fundraiser was started to provide a hot sandwich for the farmers during harvest while raising funds for local charitable organizations.  Money raised from the fundraiser goes to purchase meat vouchers over the holidays for the food pantry baskets, purchase gifts for Angel Tree kids (which is organized by VisionBank), and other charitable organizations.

Club members donate items for the meal, bake the desserts, and volunteer to work the day of the event.  Members sign up for a shift and work in various positions. Some take orders from farmers as they pull up to weigh, some take orders from walk-up customers, members work various places in the food prep line, and some are in charge of taking money.

Read more in the Oct. 11 issue of The Ogden Reporter.