Beef Checkoff The beef industry is fighting back on March 20th with celebrations across the country to support cattle ranchers and boost beef demand.
A few weeks ago, Governor Jared Polis of Colorado ruffled a lot of feathers when he declared March 20th as “Meat Out Day,” a day to abstain from eating meat for what he asserts would benefit human and planetary health.
The proclamation was a direct insult to the state’s livestock producers, which represent the second largest industry in the state of Colorado.
What’s more, the proclamation is a reminder that the government continues to beat up on whole foods like meat, dairy and eggs, as reflected in modern Dietary Guidelines for Americans standards.
Three weeks after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis called agriculture the “cornerstone to the foundation of our state” in an open letter aimed at preserving the National Western Stock Show’s future in Colorado, he signed a proclamation promoting a March 20 Meat Out Day and the removal of animal products from the diet.
This slight aimed at the state’s $4.6 billion animal protein industry isn’t the first from the governor and comes in the midst of the introduction of multiple pieces of legislation that are potentially damaging to the agriculture industry.
Prior to Polis’ letter, another was sent by Kelly Brough, CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Lauren Masias, director, Colorado Competitive Council, to the cattle breed associations that moved their shows from the postponed NWSS to Oklahoma’s Cattlemen’s Congress. That letter touts the business organizations’ support of the agriculture community and seeks to clarify that the groups hope those competitors and organiz