Elizabeth Edge chows down on a burger at Saturday’s free barbecue in Holyoke. She also led the crowd in the 4-H pledge at the beginning of the event, which raised over $8,000 for the Phillips County 4-H Council. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Over 630 people of all ages were served at Saturday’s free barbecue in downtown Holyoke. The menu included beef burgers in addition to pork, lamb and goat. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
With a burger in one hand, Phillips County Commissioner Terry Hofmeister proudly displays his “beef up” shirt at the barbecue. The commissioners proclaimed March 20 to be Phillips County Cattlemen’s Day. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Meat is on the menu
In a show of support for the local livestock industry, over 630 people turned out for a free barbecue Saturday, March 20.
The parking lot between Hometown Liquors and Bank of Colorado in downtown Holyoke was filled with picnic tables, and the tempting aroma of burgers on the grill drew in a long line of people hungry for lunch.
Many attendees were locals, but the colorful beef banners even drew in some travelers passing through town, and meals were being served long after the lunch was supposed to be over.
The stacks of beef, pork, lamb and goat patties were all donated from local producers who raise livestock. The burgers were perfect alongside baked beans, pasta salads, potato chips, desserts and drinks.
Over 75 volunteers helped put on the event, local 4-H’ers were on hand to educate people about meat, and even Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg stopped by in support.
Freewill donations were accepted at the barbecue, and over $8,000 was raised. The money will be presented to the Phillips County 4-H Council to be used at their discretion.
Dozens of similar events that focused on eating meat were held across Colorado on Saturday, which was the same day that had been declared “MeatOut Day” in a proclamation by Gov. Jared Polis.
Phillips County commissioners showed their support of local agriculture by proclaiming March 20 to be Phillips County Cattlemen’s Day.
They acknowledged that livestock production is a key economic driver in the county, and their resolution points out that local cattlemen are part of a $3.4 billion state industry with a $40 billion economic impact and 10% of the state’s total export sales.
Noting that dietary guidelines recognize that a variety of animal and plant proteins is important for a healthy diet, Phillips County commissioners expressed their concern that the governor would call for a boycott — even for one day — of an industry that is key and essential to the local and state economy.
Other counties in Colorado made similar proclamations, and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts encouraged residents in Colorado’s neighboring state to put meat on the menu Saturday in response to Polis’ “MeatOut Day.”
Saturday’s events helped set the tone for National Agriculture Week, which is March 22-27.