CALF_News_June_July_2018

42 CALF News • June | July 2018 • www.calfnews.net  CALF COMMUNITY Gatherings All-American Beef Battalion The All-American Beef Battalion (AABB) decided to celebrate our 10-year anniversary by saying thank you to our volunteers, donors and people who’ve contributed to our mission over the years. Our first official troop feed was April 26, 2008, at the National Guard Armory in Olathe Kan. We fed 450 servicemen and women who were being deployed to Iraq. Bill Broadie, AABB founder, decided we should celebrate our 10-year anniversary, so he paid for all the meals in a special effort to say thank you. Mr. Broadie himself is still in awe of what we have accomplished in such a short time. We finished 2017 with a total number fed in excess of 362,000 at events held in 26 different states. 2018 has started off with close to 4,500 fed already. We are blessed to have several of the original board members – Jim Odle, Kevin Hathaway, Craig Mock, along with founder Bill Broadie. We are also very fortunate to have two huge supporters –  Robert York with National Livestock Auction in Oklahoma City, who has been a huge supporter, donor and has participated in several feeds over the years, and Mike LeFever, president of the Colorado Corn Growers, which has also been a huge supporter with charitable contributions and attending events. It was a very fun and relaxing evening where we were able to share stories and express our appreciation to those who have tirelessly worked to bring about AABB’s success. We are looking forward to the second 10 years of our mission.  For the past six years, third graders from Meadowlark Elementary School in Kearney, Neb., have looked forward to a field trip to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic. Approximately 90 students are herded through the trade show, cattle barns and show ring area, where they learn about agriculture. The Nebraska Beef Council and the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council from UNL guide the two-hour adventure. Plans are to expand the program to include other schools.  Cattlemen’s Classic Hosts Kids Losses are still being assessed from the deadly April wildfires in Oklahoma that burned nearly 350,000 acres and resulted in the death of close to 1,600 cattle. Rain in late April and early May helped tame the disastrous inferno, but its destruction will be felt for months and years. The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation established a Fire Relief Fund to provide financial and in-kind assistance to those ranchers and their families who lost land, livestock, equipment and structures to wildfire. From the loss accumulations estimated by Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, many donations are needed. “The fires burned over 348,000 acres and destroyed numerous houses and ranch facilities,” Peel says. “Current estimates suggest that some 1,600 cattle died in the fire, with numerous others burned and hurt. At least 2,100 miles of fence were damaged or destroyed. “The burned pastures and hay left many thousands of animals displaced and in need Oklahoma Wildfire Relief Fund of emergency feed. Demand for hay and pasture from the fire is adding to pressure on diminished hay supplies in the broader drought area.” Peel estimates that wildfire losses, based on preliminary information, total $26.4 million for cattle operations. Estimated cattle industry losses in Oklahoma include $16.4 million for fence replacement and repair; and $1.4 million for livestock killed or destroyed as a result of the fire, plus veterinary costs and reduced value of surviving injured animals. Also, $6.3 million for burned facilities and corrals; $1.6 million for emergency feed; and $660,000 for burned pasture and hay. “These totals do not include any estimates for vehicle and equipment losses or homes or other personal property destroyed in the fires,” Peel says. “These estimates may increase as a more comprehensive assessment of the losses is completed.” OCA says 100 percent of Fire Relief Fund donations will be distributed to ranchers who have been affected by the fires. You may donate to this relief effort by mail or online. Make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation, with “Fire Relief” in the memo line, and send to P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To make hay donations, call 405-496-9329, 405-397-7912, or 405-590-0106. For more information or to donate online, go to www.okcattlemen.org/wildfire-relief-fund.  Bill Broadie, AABB founder, thanks a few of his volunteers. Jim Odle, Superior Livestock founder and founding director of AABB, leads a prayer. Photos by Carmen Hickman