In September, Delta Liquid Energy proudly continued its tradition of giving back by donating a locally processed pig to the SLO Food Bank. This gift was made possible through a thoughtful purchase from the California Mid-State Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction and processed by the skilled team at Cal Poly Meats, where students gain hands-on training in meat science.
Supporting Youth and Agriculture at the California Mid-State Fair
Each year, the California Mid-State Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction brings together local 4-H and FFA youth, giving them a platform to showcase their hard work raising livestock for months leading up to the event. Delta Liquid Energy proudly participated by purchasing multiple livestock including market-ready pigs — not only supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders but also providing a high-quality food source for families in need.
“It’s always been about more than the purchase,” said a Delta Liquid Energy representative. “It’s about reinvesting in our local youth and then using that investment to nourish our community.”
Processed with Care by Cal Poly Meats
After the fair, the pig was humanely processed by Cal Poly Meats, a USDA-inspected facility located within Cal Poly’s Animal Science Department. This student-run facility provides real-world experience in meat science, quality control, food safety, and value-added production.
Cal Poly Meats is known for its meticulous processing and thoughtful teaching. The facility handles both public and private custom orders and supplies the Central Coast with premium meats, including specialty products like bacon, breakfast sausage, and pork chops — some of which were part of this donation.
“Working with Cal Poly Meats ensures we’re supporting education and quality at the same time,” said the Delta Liquid Energy team.
Feeding the Central Coast through the SLO Food Bank
On a Thursday in September, Delta Liquid Energy delivered the freshly packaged pork cuts to the SLO Food Bank warehouse in San Luis Obispo. The donation included bacon and breakfast sausage, two items that are especially popular among the local community.
The SLO Food Bank team was excited to receive the delivery and anticipated the entire donation would be distributed within a week — a testament to the high demand for nutritious, high-quality protein among food-insecure families in the region.
“We are incredibly grateful to the team at Delta Liquid Energy for their thoughtful support,” said Molly Kern, CEO of the SLO Food Bank. “This donation is a powerful example of local collaboration in action—it supports young leaders in agriculture at the Mid-State Fair, invests in student learning at Cal Poly Meats, and directly nourishes families across SLO County, for whom high-quality protein is always a critical need.”
Strengthening the Local Food System
This effort highlights a larger cycle of community collaboration: from supporting youth in agriculture, to investing in education through Cal Poly, to making nutritious food available to those who need it most.
Through partnerships like this, Delta Liquid Energy continues to bridge the gap between agriculture, education, and access — reinforcing the company’s belief in doing business with purpose.
About the SLO Food Bank
The SLO Food Bank’s mission is to work with a network of community partners to alleviate hunger in San Luis Obispo County and build a healthier community. The SLO Food Bank is serving 45,000 neighbors on average each month through a network of over 70 nonprofit partners, its Neighborhood Food Distributions, Senior Home Delivery Program, and Children’s and Seniors’ Farmer’s Markets. All of this is made possible by volunteers’ time and donors’ support.
The SLO Food Bank’s commitment to equity, nutrition, and community collaboration continues to make a meaningful difference across the county.
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About Cal Poly Meats
Cal Poly Meats is part of the university’s renowned Meat Science program, giving students hands-on experience in every step of the meat production process—from harvesting to packaging. This USDA-inspected facility (Establishment No. M44052+P44052) is operated by students under faculty supervision and plays a critical role in Cal Poly’s “learn by doing” philosophy.
The facility allows students to gain valuable, real-world training in meat lab work, quality assurance, safety, packaging, and even customer service. Many go on to work in management, microbiology, food safety, and sales within the food industry. In addition to retail sales of their award-winning meats, Cal Poly Meats also processes livestock from local fairs and private individuals, ensuring students gain real-time experience with both custom and commercial processing. Students enrolled in the Meat Science & Processing minor take courses like Processed Meat Products and Poultry Meat Production, preparing them for essential roles in a changing food industry.
🔗 Learn more about Cal Poly Meats
Read more about the 4-H and FFA students we supported at the 2025 California Mid-State Fair Junior Livestock Auction below:
Delta Liquid Energy Invests in the Future of Agriculture at the 2025 California Mid-State Fair