Gov. Jared Polis’ MeatOut Day proclamation has garnered sharp backlash from the agricultural community, with some ranchers saying the move is a “slap in the face” to livestock producers.
The move has inspired several counties in Colorado Moffat, Grand and Weld counties so far to proclaim March 20 as a day to celebrate meat rather than to avoid it.
“It felt like a slap in the face,” said Lane Iacovetto, whose husband is a fourth-generation rancher. “You would never see a no tourism day in Colorado.”
Iacovetto said it would have been different if the day was marketed as vegetarian day or something else pro-plant-based diet, but instead, the day is exclusively aimed at one of the state’s largest industries.