CALF_News_August_September_2021

29 CALF News • August | September 2021 • www.calfnews.net They still all come to town to celebrate being one of the primary cattle feeding areas in the country and to remind the “townies” that agriculture is still a major part the Garden City, Kan., economy as well as the nation’s. From the Beef, Beer and Boots Cook- Off to the Cattlemen’s Crawl, the 53 rd Annual Beef Empire Days showed everyone a good time. This year’s celebration theme was “Beef: Always Essential,” and long-time Beef Empire Days supporter Ray Purdy served as the annual parade’s grand marshal. On my calendar since the 1990s, Beef Empire Days never fails to inspire. Midwest Feeders took top honors in the carcass category with a 1,676- pound steer. The steer had a carcass weight of 1,031 pounds, a ribeye area of 17.63 square inches and graded Prime. The winning heifer, fed at Sublette Feeders, weighed 1,292 pounds with a carcass weight of 806 pounds, a 15.52-square-inch ribeye and also graded Prime. Winner of the Cattle Working Contest was the team from Irsik and Doll Feedyard.  LEFT: Lucie and Emily Barr show pup Buster Price off at the Beef Empire Days Live Show. The Beef Empire Days Live Show draws a good crowd. ABOVE: Cooks are having a great time at the Beef, Beer and Boots Cook-Off. LEFT: Fast food trucks in Stephens Park serve a variety of beef options. BELOW LEFT: HRC Feedyards LLC fed the Beef Empire Days Live Show heifer. BELOW RIGHT: The Beef Empire Days Live Steer winner was fed at Sunbelt Feeders. Beef Empire Days TURNS 53 By Betty Jo Gigot Publisher Photos courtesy of Beef Empire Days and Betty Jo Gigot