SLV Cattlemen’s donates 500 pounds of beef

Photo by Keith R. Cerny Members of the SLV Cattlemen’s Association donated 500 pounds of ground beef to La Puente Homeless Shelter on Friday in recognition of Colorado “Meat-IN” day. Pictured are, from left, Caleigh Payne with Alamosa County Farm Bureau, local livestock producer Chad Cochran, Graham Hunt, case manager with La Puente, Katy Dickey, president of the SLV Cattlemen’s, and local producer Jeb Stoltzfus.

ALAMOSA — In recognition of Colorado “Meat-In” day, members of the San Luis Valley Cattlemen’s Association donated 500 pounds of ground beef to La Puente Homeless Shelter on Friday, March 19.

“We appreciate the livestock industry in the San Luis Valley,” said Chad Cochran, livestock producer and Rio Grande County director for the association. “We are proud to produce sustainable and nutritious beef.”

“Meat-In” day was declared by county commissioners in more than 20 Colorado counties in reaction to Gov. Jared Polis’ declaration of “Meat-Out” day, discouraging the consumption of meat on March 20.

Among the donors were Shane and Beth Temple with the T Heart Ranch, Timberline Cattle, Jeb and Marylin Stoltzfus, Darius and Judy Allen, Senator Cleave Simpson, Chad and Amy Cochran, Blue and Jeannie Allen, Caleigh Payne and Alamosa County Farm Bureau.

In an email to the Valley Courier, Payne said the governor’s move “greatly upset many in the farming and ranching community, as the livestock industry contributes more than $6 billion to the Colorado economy each year.”

The burger donated Friday to La Puente came from the T Heart Ranch in La Garita, as well as Simpson-Allen Beef near Alamosa.

Graham Hunt, a case manager with La Puente, said the beef will be used at the shelter as well as the SLV Food Bank.