“There's a lot of lessons that you learn by growing up on a farm,” says Amy, who grew up in Climax and spent her youthful summers working on her Grandfather's farm near Battle Creek. “Like faith - and if you have a lot, then share it.”
Amy credits the fact that “I was fortunate to be born into a good family and marry into one,” with motivating herself and her husband to have a heart towards those who don't have as much.
So, about four years ago, she and Luke made the connection with Climax High School, down the road a mile or two from their farm and had a chat with Kevin Langs, the Head Football Coach there.
“Kevin teaches the kids servant leadership,” says Amy. He has the team come to our farm and harvest the corn (for the Food Bank) after they've had their morning football workout and they're tired and sweaty because, “he said, ‘I want them to give from their weakness, not their strength.'”
Amy wishes other farmers would harvest a row, or a portion of their fields for the Food Bank this summer as well. “Sometimes when you do staggered planting, it still seems to come in all at once, so there's an option (to give) so it doesn't have to rot in the field.”
She suggests that farmers give their local high school secretary a call if they need to round up volunteers to pick the vegetable crops. “They have the pulse on what's going on, and what kids are in the honor society, and which society members need to do a community service project.”
“When you're given much, much is expected,” Amy sums up. “We're nobody special, but we wanted to teach our kids the right way. When your neighbors are going hungry, you feed your neighbors.”
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is a United Way Delivery Partner and a member of America's Second Harvest and the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
Photo cutlines: Swager Family gathered around tractor, in front of cornfield.