Fighting Hunger is a Mission-All in the Family

Our own Chief Culinary Officer, Jeff Marlow, and his daughter Sara were the cover story for Oklahoma Country magazine!

Chef Jeff, as he is known around our food bank, is already well-known for his dedication to helping neighbors in need ranging from families, individuals, seniors, and veterans throughout our 24-county service area.

He and his daughter’s efforts were recently highlighted in the Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s statewide publication and focused on the protein sticks Chef Jeff created for their Beef for Backpacks program. The program was started by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to provide a good source of protein in the Backpack program for kids in need.

Sara Marlow, Chef’s daughter, is active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, and she shows pigs. She also donates an animal every year at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. From Oklahoma Country: “By showing pigs, it makes me feel like I have my own thing at my school because going to a big school there are so many things you can be involved in. I like knowing that I am one of the students at Broken Arrow High School who is showing livestock,” she said. She has been able to show her projects at local, district, state, and national shows during her time in 4-H and FFA. Even

though she was diagnosed with a medical condition, cerebral palsy, at a young age, this has not stopped her from achieving the goals she has set forth for herself.

Sara has made the most of her situation and wanted to find a way to help others who are in a similar situation. “I am able to advocate for those who have special needs within agriculture, and I was able to help start the Unified Champions 4-H club,” Sara said.“ These students are now able to advocate for agriculture and learn about the industry and where their food comes from. Getting a head start on advocating for agriculture and even within the public school has been a great opportunity for me.”

The Broken Arrow School District highlighted Sara’s work in a special video:

Broken Arrow School – Video

Read the Magazine Story