When most people think about food donations, canned goods and fresh produce often come to mind. But one of the most nutritious—and most expensive—items on a family’s dinner table is protein.
More than 20 years ago, longtime rancher Cheryl LaFranchi founded the Range to Table program with a simple but powerful idea: connect locally raised meat with neighbors experiencing hunger. Since 2012, the Redwood Empire Food Bank has proudly partnered in this effort, helping bring high-quality protein from local ranches and farms to families throughout Sonoma County.
Through Range to Table, ranchers and community members have the opportunity to donate livestock—including beef, pork, and poultry—that has been thoughtfully cared for from pasture to processing. Many of these animals are raised by local ranchers, while others come from dedicated 4-H and FFA youth members who spend months feeding, training, and caring for their animals in preparation for the Sonoma County Fair Junior Livestock Auction.
Once donated, the animals are processed at USDA-approved facilities and transformed into nutritious meals for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, providing a valuable source of protein that many families may otherwise struggle to afford.
A Growing Partnership at the Sonoma County Fair
As the Sonoma County Fair Junior Livestock Auction approaches this August, Range to Table is preparing for one of its biggest opportunities of the year. According to Redwood Empire Food Bank Food Resources Manager Colin Davidson, the partnership with the fair has grown significantly over the years.
“The first year we received about 10 donated animals,” Davidson shared. “The next year it grew to around 40. Last year, we received more than 100 animals.”
Those donations translated into thousands of pounds of locally raised meat distributed throughout the community. What started as a small effort has grown into a meaningful partnership between the Redwood Empire Food Bank, local ranchers, and the agricultural community.
This year’s auction is expected to make an even greater impact. In addition to beef, the Redwood Empire Food Bank anticipates receiving a wider variety of livestock—including lamb, goats, pigs, rabbits, and poultry—helping provide even more nutritious options for families across the region.
“It’s become something the 4-H and FFA communities have really embraced,” Davidson said. “More buyers are choosing to donate their animals rather than take them home, and that’s been incredible to see.”
Supporting Young Ranchers While Helping Families
The Sonoma County Fair Junior Livestock Auction is more than a sale—it is a celebration of dedication, agriculture, and community. Each year, local 4-H, FFA, and independent junior exhibitors spend countless hours raising and caring for their animals while learning valuable lessons in responsibility, animal care, agriculture, and business. Through their projects, they gain hands-on experience in animal husbandry, record keeping, entrepreneurship, and the commitment required to bring high-quality food from the farm to the table.
The auction also provides an opportunity for community members to support the next generation of agricultural leaders. Funds earned through the sale of these animals are often reinvested into future animal projects or educational opportunities, helping youth continue building their skills and pursuing their passions.
For buyers, the impact extends far beyond supporting a young exhibitor. By purchasing an animal and donating it to the Redwood Empire Food Bank through the Range to Table program, buyers help transform the dedication and hard work of local youth into nutritious meals for neighbors facing hunger.
“It’s a way to invest in local youth while also making a direct impact on hunger in our community,” Davidson explained.
Through this partnership, a single auction purchase creates a ripple effect—supporting youth agriculture, strengthening local food systems, and helping provide nutritious protein to families throughout Sonoma County.
Donations Aren’t Limited to Fair Season
While the Sonoma County Fair brings increased awareness and participation to the program each summer, Range to Table accepts donations throughout the year.
Community members who have a relationship with a local rancher can purchase an animal and donate it to the Redwood Empire Food Bank at any time. The livestock must be processed through a USDA-approved facility before it can be distributed.
“It’s really a year-round opportunity,” Davidson said. “If you know a rancher, you can make a donation at any time.”
As food costs continue to rise, protein remains one of the most requested—and most difficult to source—items for food assistance organizations. Each Range to Table donation helps ensure families have access to nutritious, locally sourced protein when they need it most.
Whether it’s a steer donated by a local rancher or an auction purchase made during the Sonoma County Fair, every contribution helps put wholesome meals on tables throughout Sonoma County.
Interested in supporting Range to Table during this year’s Sonoma County Fair Junior Livestock Auction?
Contact the Sonoma County Fair Entry Office for information about becoming a buyer, or reach out to Redwood Empire Food Bank Food’s Resources Manager, Colin Davidson at cdavidson@refb.org, for more about the Range to Table program and how you can help provide nutritious protein to neighbors facing hunger.
