Provided by UW Extension, Lincoln County

Afton, WYO – The fifth year of Grow a Little Extra is kicking off in Lincoln County with free seeds available at the Lincoln County Extension office. UW Extension educator, Shar Perry, will coordinate Grow a Little Extra efforts in the area, including accepting produce donations, weighing them, and distributing them to local anti-hunger organizations. In Afton, Grow a Little Extra donations will go to Afton Food Pantry.

The Grow a Little Extra project encourages home gardeners to “grow a little extra,” existing community gardens to dedicate one or two sections to growing food specifically for donation, and churches or community organizations who want to start a new garden to grow food for the community. Grow a Little Extra is a collaborative effort between First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the University of Wyoming Extension and the Cent$ible Nutrition Program.

In 2024, the Grow a Little Extra partnership donated over 40,000 pounds of produce to anti-hunger organizations in the state. Fresh produce is difficult and costly for the food pantry system to procure, and this project encourages people from across the state to participate in this Wyoming solution to hunger.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative is the official initiative of Wyoming’s First Lady Jennie Gordon and is governed by the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Governor’s Residence Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“University of Wyoming Extension is already doing good work around the state with their Master Gardener program and Cent$ible Nutrition Program,” says First Lady Jennie Gordon. “This Wyoming Hunger Initiative effort continues to leverage the work already being done to increase access to local produce for a wide range of people in Wyoming.” Strengthening local food systems reduces food insecurity and increases positive health outcomes, which supports Wyoming Hunger Initiative’s goal of ensuring nourished kids, healthy families, and thriving communities across the state.

“The collaboration with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative and the UW Cent$ible Nutrition Program has been a fruitful partnership. Locally grown produce donations along with nutrition education has helped address food and nutrition security in Wyoming. We look forward to another great season of collaborating with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative and local gardeners to support hunger relief organizations,” says Cent$ible Nutrition State Director Mindy Meuli.

Anyone in the state of Wyoming who enjoys gardening is encouraged to grow an extra row or two and donate the produce to their local Extension office, where it will be weighed and distributed to local anti-hunger organizations.

Contact Shar Perry at 307-885-3132 or hunsaker@uwyo.edu for more information.

About Grow a Little Extra

Grow A Little Extra is a partnership with the University of Wyoming Extension’s Cent$ible Nutrition Program (CNP) and Master Gardener Program, encouraging community organizations and individuals to grow extra produce for neighbors facing food insecurity. Increased access to fresh produce in Wyoming is a critical tool in the fight against food insecurity. Grow A Little Extra is helping to remove existing barriers one vegetable at a time. Join the fight! Visit www.nohungerwyo.org/grow to learn more.