The 64th annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair showcasedeight days of exhibits, food and live entertainment in August, butwhen it was all over, the $278 million Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union in Germantown, Md., came homewith a 1,029-pound steer.

No bull.

The fair, which averages 250,000 fairgoers a year according toorganizers, is the largest county fair in Maryland, the credit union said.

Mid-Atlantic FCU, a sponsor of the fair, purchased the steer atthe 4-H livestock sale on Aug. 16. The locally raised steer willhelp feed close to 1,000 Montgomery County residents in need of anourishing meal, the credit union said in a release. The Manna FoodCenter is the beneficiary of the unusual gift.

“As a community-based credit union, supporting ourneighbors is part of our mission, not just lip service,” said MarcWilensky, vice president of marketing. “We are continuously lookingfor new and creative ways to positively impact our localcommunity.

“Because of our purchase and donation of a locally grown steerto the Manna Food Center, we will be able to help more of ourneighbors in need receive the nourishment they need for survivaland well-being,” Wilensky said. “This approach also allows us tosupport the local teens from Montgomery County's 4-H who work hardto raise healthy and nutritious livestock.”

In addition to this donation, MAFCU continues to volunteer atand collect food for Manna Food Center throughout theyear.

“The recent donation by MAFCU to Manna Food Center is impressivebecause of the quantity of food but also, more importantly, becauseof the quality,” said Jenna Umbriac, Manna Food Center'sdirector of nutrition programs.

“It is our goal at Manna to not just feed people but to trulynourish our neighbors in need by emphasizing farm fresh produce andless processed non-perishable goods. A donation ofcounty-grown and consciously raised beef allows us to fulfill thismission by providing a high-quality protein source for nearly 400Montgomery County families,” Umbriac said in the credit union'sannouncement.