What do you get when you mix a little friendly competition, a lot of cooperative spirit and a mission to fight hunger? At this year’s GENEX annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, you got a room full of people laughing, learning—and building real solutions for a community in need.
As part of our commitment towards “No Poverty” and “No Hunger” initiatives, GENEX staff and delegates attending the cooperative’s annual meeting took part in Hydroponics for Hunger, a hands-on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity that turned trivia and teamwork into tangible impact. Together, we rolled up our sleeves to assemble hydroponic gardening kits. The goal was to empower food-insecure communities to grow their own healthy vegetables and herbs, thereby fighting hunger and helping break the cycle of poverty.
However, the challenge was more than just assembling kits. Teams competed in a lively series of photo, video and trivia tasks. The energy in the room was electric—full of laughter, learning and a shared sense of purpose.
By the end of the session, participants assembled over 30 hydroponic kits, each including a 14-gallon non-circulating growing system, fertilizer mix, seeds, netpots and a hydroponics guidebook. The kits were donated to Hope-Hill Elementary School in downtown Atlanta. Students at this urban school, where green space is limited, now have the opportunity to grow their own fresh food. The hydroponic garden system will be integrated into their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) curriculum. Even more important, it will connect these students to our food system and where their food comes from.
“This was such a unique way to make a difference,” shares Tony Bakeberg, GENEX council member and dairy farmer from Waverly, Minnesota. “We learned something new, had a blast and helped others all in one evening. Plus, my team earned gold medals, as we were crowned winners of the friendly, yet fierce, competition!”
The Hydroponics for Hunger activity was a natural extension of what GENEX members do every day: produce quality food and work toward a more food-secure, sustainable future.
“At GENEX, we’re committed to breeding better cows for a better world, but our impact goes beyond genetics,” states Jenny Hanson, GENEX CSR representative. “It was exciting to see delegates and staff work together as our shared commitment to feeding the world took center stage. It was truly cooperative power in action, a cooperative effort to make a positive impact on the world.”
GENEX Corporate Social Responsibility
The United Nations set 17 big goals to make the world a better place by 2030—things like ending poverty, protecting the planet, and making sure everyone has the chance to live a healthy, prosperous life. At GENEX, we’re focusing on three of these goals where we can make the biggest impact in the years ahead:
Protect the Planet
No Poverty
No Hunger
Follow us on social media or check back at www.genex.coop periodically to learn more about our CSR progress.
