Canned goods were collected at the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Awareness Breakfast Thursday. (Laura Ewan/WJBC)

By Stephanie Pawlowski

BLOOMINGTON - The McLean County Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Awareness Breakfast Thursday was about more than just kicking off the farming season.

Attendance was free, but Misty Lay with the McLean County Farm Bureau said this year, attendees were asked to bring in canned goods to be donated to the Midwest Food Bank.

"I have no idea how many (cans we collected) but I know it is over 500," Lay said. "We did it a little different this year. We have a probox, which most people won't know what that is, but that is how the seed is brought to our farms. We actually filled one of those up with canned goods."

The McLean County Farm Bureau is also working with Cub Foods this week. Shoppers can make a donation and at the end of the week, Lay said the group will purchase meat to donate to the food bank as well.

"It is a cash donation. And, the Farm Bureau will match it with $500 in meat to donate to the Midwest Food Bank this week," Lay said. "Meat is very hard to get, but it is a great way to get cash donations."

Lay said there are some Farm Bureau committee members that are also bagging food this week for donations.

The Ag Breakfast kicks off the 2013 farming season with a keynote by President and CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, former State Rep. Duane Noland, and will honor this year's recipients of grants from the Maitland Agriculture Awareness Fund.

Stephanie Pawlowski can be reached at Stephanie.Pawlowski@cumulus.com.