2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover

Jackie Hernandez knew she was going to be up early. Her husband had to be at work by 5:50 a.m., and she was dropping him off.

Ten minutes after doing so, she was lined up for the inaugural Hometown Turkey Takeover along the southern perimeter of the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin, Minnesota. Her vehicle was the first in a line that eventually stretched longer than a mile by the time the event kicked off at 9 a.m. Hernandez knew the line would be lengthy, and she didn’t mind waiting. “I was going to be up anyway,” she said with a smile. For her patience, Hernandez, like thousands of others who followed, was rewarded with a free JENNIE-O^® turkey.

By The Numbers

250

+

Volunteers

distributing turkeys

5000

Turkeys Distributed

throughout Mower County

90K

Meals*

one-day donation total

*Based on USDA guidelines, a meal is equal to 1.2 pounds of food.

Hormel Foods brought two semi-trucks full of whole frozen turkeys to the fairgrounds on Saturday, Nov. 16. Over the course of the day, the company — together with valued partners at the Hometown Food Security Project, local nonprofits, and more than 250 volunteers of all ages — delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event. Hormel Foods also donated an additional 1,500 turkeys to various food shelves throughout Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 5,000, which equates to more than 90,000 meals*.

This event, the first of its kind in Austin, brought Hormel Foods closer to its goal of providing the equivalent of 70 million meals by 2030; part of the company’s 20 By 30 Challenge initiative. Hormel Foods is also working to create a food secure community program through its partnership with the Hometown Food Security Project, an effort aimed at reducing food insecurity rates in both Mower County and around the world. In both regards, Saturday’s donation event was another meaningful step in the right direction.

Ours is a company that cares deeply about combating food insecurity, and we recognize that there’s a serious need here in Mower County. We’re here to help ensure that the people living in our community have full tables and full hearts this holiday season.
Jeff Baker, group vice president of Retail Marketing – Value Added Meats

“We’re here to give,” said Jeff Baker, group vice president of Retail Marketing at Hormel Foods. “Ours is a company that cares deeply about combating food insecurity, and we recognize that there’s a serious need here in Mower County. We’re here to help ensure that the people living in our community have full tables and full hearts this holiday season.”

Hernandez recognized that sentiment with gratitude. “It’s great to see Hormel Foods doing something like this for the whole community,” she said.

One Austin Police Department (APD) officer, Lt. Jeff McCormack, APD’s longest serving member on the force, spent part of his morning directing traffic in support of the event. McCormack has been a police officer in Austin for 18 years. He said he’s never seen anything quite like what he saw on Saturday morning.

“I think it demonstrates a clear need,” said Tammy Snee, Austin community advocate and leading member of the Hometown Food Security coalition. “With car after car driving through, you can just see the faces light up when they’re greeted by our amazing volunteers. The energy has been absolutely incredible, and I think it goes to show just how connected the people of this community are to one another.”

After the mile-long line started moving at 9 a.m., vehicles flowed steadily into the fairgrounds over the next five hours, collectively carrying out more than 70,000 pounds of JENNIE-O^® turkey through the eastern gate. Early arrivals, like Hernandez, were also treated to a surprise offering of HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^® OVEN READY™ Thick Cut Bacon, while supplies lasted.

Hundreds of vehicles poured in throughout the day. A small handful of folks even rode in on bicycles, bravely withstanding the elements of a gusty November day.

“Everyone seemed very grateful,” said Molly Lanke, executive director for United Way of Mower County. “There were a lot of smiles, even from those at the front who had been in line for two or three hours. We heard and saw in real time how much this means to people, how times are hard right now. Something like this goes a long way for people.”

United Way of Mower County was one of several local organizations on hand to help out, as Lanke and her team were also joined by representatives from the Austin Salvation Army, Austin Aspires, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), Rachel’s Hope, Second Act Thrift Store, and Summerset Theatre.

There’s a saying that goes, ‘If we do it alone, we’ll only get so far, but if we do it together, we’ll get even farther.’ And I think that is a testament that we’re seeing here today.
Gema Alvarado-Guerrero, workforce wellness facilitator at Hormel Foods and Hometown Food Security Project co-lead

In addition to organizational support, more than 250 volunteer slots for the event were filled in record time, thanks in large part to the social mobility of the aforementioned partnering organizations, which were instrumental in spreading the word for one of the largest volunteer opportunities that Austin has ever seen. Hundreds of volunteer recruitment flyers were disseminated and posted, inviting prospective helpers from school clubs, local businesses and community members at large. In just over a week’s time, dozens of volunteer registrants found themselves on a waiting list.

“There’s a saying that goes, ‘If we do it alone, we’ll only get so far, but if we do it together, we’ll get even farther.’ And I think that is a testament that we’re seeing here today,” said Gema Alvarado-Guerrero, workforce wellness facilitator at Hormel Foods and Hometown Food Security Project co-lead. “This is a whole community effort, and I don’t think it should go unnoticed that about half of our volunteers right now are students. I love seeing that. It’s always so rewarding to see young people display such a commitment to their own community.”

Austin High School (AHS) boys basketball players were among those handing out turkeys, loading vacant trunks and empty passenger seats. Participation wasn’t mandatory. “I just told them, let me know if you want to be a part of this,” AHS coach Jamaal Gibson said. “We really try to champion the idea of giving back to the community that gives so much to us.”

Naturally, the whole squad came out, as did a substantial cohort of other young volunteers from various student organizations, including Recovery is Happening, the AHS National Honors Society, and Matchbox Children’s Theatre, among others.

More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.
More than 250 volunteers of all ages delivered 3,500 JENNIE-O^® turkeys to local community members in a drive-thru-style event in Austin, Minn.

“It’s just awesome that we have organizations like Hormel Foods, like the United Way, like the Hometown Food Security Project. We’re fortunate to have them in our community,” said Gibson, who graciously volunteered for the duration of the event. “They all see a need in the community, and we’re all out here working together to help fulfill that need. It just shows what the spirit of Austin is. We care about each other.”

“Austin is a community that has empathy and compassion for its neighbors,” said Mary Weikum, retired director of food nutrition for Austin Public Schools and Hometown Food Security Project coalition member. “I used to tell kids all the time, when you volunteer to help others, it doesn’t just make other people feel good. It makes you feel good, too, and I think we’ve seen that today with all the great energy and smiling faces.”

*Based on USDA guidelines, a meal is equal to 1.2 pounds of food.

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