CALF_News_December_2019_January_2020

32 CALF News • December 2019 | January 2020 • www.calfnews.net Meat and Greet Connects Urban Foodies with Youth Raising Livestock T he event’s goal is to showcase how food is raised and to build better connections between people who live in rural and urban areas. By bringing youth involved in raising livestock to the city, urban and rural con- sumers alike converge in a high-energy setting where they can interact and dis- cover how their food is raised from the kids who raise and show livestock. A committee selects the 12 youth participants, who are chosen through an application process. Besides earning a scholarship, the youth have a chance to create lasting connections and build relationships with the influencers in the business community. This year’s participants were selected in October and spent the next month preparing their show animals. The day of the event, they traveled to the historic NWSS Stadium Arena where the show ring was set up for a runway, red-carpet style event. Guests sat in “box seats” with By Kelsey Pope Contributing Editor beautifully decorated tables between cattle panels. Throughout the evening, attendees could interact with the youth and their animals, as well as sample appetizing entrees made from beef, pork, lamb and goat. One of the Meat and Greet youth par- ticipants this year was Madison Crider, a 14-year-old, eighth grader from Eaton, Colo., who has been showing sheep for five years. She brought her lamb, affec- tionately named Hot Mess, who she will be showing at NWSS in January 2020. “I’ve come to the event before and it looked like so much fun to participate with my sheep,” Madison says.“I’m all for trying something new, so meeting and talking with people is an experience that I looked forward to.” When Madison found out she was accepted to participate in the Meat and Greet, she prepared for questions she might get asked from the urban attend- ees about her project and agriculture. “I also looked forward to this event for it to help me develop my responsibil- ity in raising food and sharing that with other people,” Madison adds. A criteria for the youth participating in the Meat and Greet is that they plan to show their animal at the NWSS in January 2020. Chase Williams, John- stown, Colo., raises and shows cattle, and was excited to be involved in the event with his Simmental steer, Sir Ernie, who already has show experience from the Colorado State Fair. “My 4-H leader encouraged me to apply not only to have the experience, but also to work on my public speaking skills,” Chase says.“I’m excited to meet new people; it’s been so fun already!” Sara Wiechman, a 17-year-old senior at Green Mountain High School, Little- ton, Colo., hopes to attend Texas Tech next year to study creative media and agriculture communications. The Green Mountain FFA program has been one of the most active urban FFA programs FFA members serve Meat and Greet guests. Locally sourced cuisine, kids and critters were the focal point of the Third Annual Meat and Greet event, hosted by the Colorado FFA Foundation, Nov. 14. This foodie event, set in the heart of food-centric Denver, Colo., at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) Complex, features Colorado-raised protein and beverages, and highlights youth involved in livestock production.