BCC staff purchases hog to help feed the hungry

The Buckeye Career Center staff has wrapped up its annual purchase and donation of a hog from the Tuscarawas County Fair, with this year’s hog benefiting the First United Methodist Church Supper Table in New Philadelphia.

Staff members raised $1,845 toward the purchase of Tristen Bryan’s 231-pound market hog. Bryan is a double lab senior from Newcomerstown, enrolled in BCC’s utility lineworker and energy operations programs. He is an eight-year Kountry Kids 4-H Club member and has sold a market hog each year.

“4-H makes you respect animals more. You have to take care of something else. You take care of yourself every day, but taking care of animals is a different level of importance,” Bryan said.

Bryan hopes to become a power lineman after graduation and will save the money to help with his future endeavors. He was surprised to find the BCC staff purchased his animal.

“I thought it was really cool that the Buckeye staff would purchase my hog. I didn’t realize they bought hogs until just this year,” he said.

Bryan plans to save the money and use it to buy tools and equipment he might need to enter the workforce.

The packs of ground sausage will be used in soups and casseroles for meals served each Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Supper Table. According to spokesperson Susan Arnold, the meal is free and available to the public.

“The community thanks you, and it will be put to good use,” she said. “Donations of this size are rare, with our large meat donations coming around the holidays.”

The weekly meal is buffet-style and is typically funded by the church’s parishioners. The First United Methodist Church is located at 201 W. High Ave. in New Philadelphia. The remaining $460 raised will benefit the Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry.

The hog was processed by BCC’s own meat cutting, deli and bakery students and instructor Scott Ripley. Staff members began contributing money to the fundraising effort in September. All money was raised by teachers, instructors, support workers, administration and others.

This is the 13th consecutive year staff members have raised money to purchase a hog from a student, raising a total of $15,545.50 over the years. The effort was spearheaded this year by superintendent secretary Sherry Cardani.