Farm Bureau sweeps through Hy-Vee’s aisles

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Farm Bureau replaced their traditional Cram the Cab fundraising event for National Agriculture Week with a Supermarket Sweep Challenge.

Five local businesses created a stir at Hy-Vee over the weekend as they ran around the store with decorated shopping carts that they filled with items for The Fellowship Cup.

According to Henry County Farm Bureau Outreach Coordinator Sarah Seitz, the Farm Bureau wanted to swap the event for “something that was a little more interactive.”

“We wanted something fun for other businesses to partake in,” she said.

“The businesses checked in at 8 a.m.,” Seitz explained. “They had about 45 minutes to decorate their cart because we did give away a prize for the best decorated cart, and at 9 a.m. we started the heat.”

Farm Credit Services of America, Iowa State Bank, Beck’s Hybrids, Farm Bureau Financial, and Two Rivers Bank & Trust were split into two heats for the competition.

“We did two businesses against each other, and then we did the other three in a second just so we didn't have a bunch of people running people all through Hy-Vee,” Seitz said.

“They had five minutes to go through the store and get as close to $250 in groceries as they could and, whoever was closest to $250 was the winner,” Seitz further explained.

According to Seitz, the participating businesses did not pay an entry fee to participate, but all of the items they collected did serve as donations for The Fellowship cup.

“Five minutes before their heat they received a grocery category list,” Seitz said.

The list included items such as canned vegetables and fruits, microwave meals, and other items that most food pantries need to stock their shelves.

“They had to get at least 10 items off of that list,” Seitz said. “Then they all went through checkout, and we kept track of how much everyone spent as they purchased their groceries.”

We have a traveling trophy that the first place winner received. It's got like a little cart on it. That stats put together for us. And each year, that trophy will travel to whatever business wins.

Participating business not only enjoyed knowing they helped their community, but they also received bragging rights for winning, and commemorative certificates or trophies for their accomplishments.

Beck’s Hybrid walked away with all of those as the 2023 Henry County Farm Bureau Supermarket Sweep winner with a cart that came the closest to the $250 goal.

Farm Bureau Financial received bragging rights and a gift certificate when they won Best Decorate Cart which the Facebook community decided through votes on a post made to the Henry County Farm Bureau’s page.

Finally, Two River’s Bank received the honor of Great Grabber with their purchase of $314 worth of donations.

“Between all five of the businesses that participated, they donated $1,286 worth of groceries to The Fellowship Cup,” Seitz revealed.

Despite holding the event for the first time, Seitz already anticipates making it a tradition.

“Ever since I posted how it went and everything, we've had a lot of businesses say that they look forward to it next year and hope to put together a team,” she said. “We're excited to continue to do this in the future and hope that we get more and more businesses to participate.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com