By Blake Jackson
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and community partners are encouraging hunters to participate in a deer donation drive in Webster County to help provide food for local students and families during the holiday season.
The Share the Harvest Deer Donation Drive is scheduled for December 5-6, 2026, through a collaboration involving MDC, the Marshfield School District, Share the Harvest partners and Zimmerman Quality Meats.
Hunters can donate field-dressed deer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days at the Marshfield High School Agriculture Building, located at 370 State Highway DD. The event coincides with the opening weekend of Missouri's late antlerless firearms deer season. All donated deer must be field-dressed and Telechecked before delivery.
“We are incredibly excited to see our Marshfield R-1 agriculture students, MDC, Zimmerman’s Meats, and local hunters come together through this partnership to support students and families in need,” said Marshfield School Superintendent Garrett Lowder.
Zimmerman Quality Meats will process donated deer into venison for distribution throughout the community. Some of the meat will support the school district's backpack program. Hunters can donate deer at no charge, while community members can contribute financially to help cover processing expenses.
“This pilot represents an exciting opportunity to engage students and communities through Share the Harvest in a new way,” said STH Expansion Coordinator Jake Hindman.
“The Marshfield School District and Zimmerman Quality Meats are leading the way in an effort that can serve as a model for similar deer donation drives across Missouri. We encourage area hunters to harvest and donate a deer during this first-ever event to support Marshfield students and families in need.”
The initiative will also provide educational opportunities. Marshfield agricultural education students will select 10 donated deer to process alongside younger students, offering practical experience in meat processing and workforce development.
“This is all about kids teaching kids, which brings real-world, hands-on learning into the classroom while helping students develop a better connection to conservation,” said MDC Education District Supervisor Marty Marsh.
Additionally, MDC and Marshfield agricultural education students will conduct a free Field-to-Freezer demonstration from 6-8 p.m. December 9, 2026, at Marshfield High School. The workshop will teach community members how to process their own deer.
"This program is a great example of what Agricultural Education (Ag-Ed) is all about,” said Marshfield Ag-Ed Teacher Justin Cron.
“One of the most rewarding parts of teaching Ag-Ed is watching students realize that the skills they're learning can be used to make a difference outside the classroom. They're learning valuable skills in meat processing and food production, but more importantly, they're learning the value of serving others and giving back to their community.”
Registration for the workshop is available through the Missouri Department of Conservation's event website https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/222806.
Photo Credit: pexels-jim-fawns
Categories: Missouri, General