Beefing up education
Pictured with a 420-pound beef donation are (back row, left to right) County Superintendent Gary Williams, Phil Campbell Principal Gary Odom, PC Assistant Principal Darit Riddle, cattleman Jack Hargett, cattleman Stewart Blackburn, cattleman Robert Vall, Cattlemen President Steven Smith, Probate Judge Barry Moore, (front row, left to right) Red Bay’s Sherry Hutcheson, Belgreen’s Robynn Bragwell, Russellville Middle’s Rachel Agee and Russellville High’s Cindy S. Coan.
By Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com
When most people think of school supplies, what comes to mind is probably pencils, paper, calculators and crayons. When the Franklin County Cattlemen Association members think of school supplies, they think stew meat, ground beef and chuck roast.
Thursday the Cattlemen made their annual donation of 420 pounds of beef split among the consumer science departments at Phil Campbell, Belgreen, Russellville and Red Bay – stew meat, ground beef, chuck roast, ground chuck and stir fry meat.
The Franklin County Cattlemen Association has been donating beef to the schools in the county for 43 years.
Cindy Coan, Russellville High School, said the annual donation greatly benefits her students, reducing costs and allowing them to participate in a great number of cooking sessions.
“It’s all about engaging your students these days,” Coan said.
“The most exciting part to the kids in food chemistry or family and consumer science is getting into food labs and getting to cook,” added Sherry Hutcheson, Red Bay.
Students cook everything from beef nachos and empanadas to spaghetti and chili.
“You know how expensive beef is in the grocery store – we couldn’t afford to go down there and buy it,” Hutcheson said.
The mission of the state Cattlemen Association, Franklin County Cattlemen Association President Steve Smith said, is to protect and enhance the business climate for cattle production in Alabama. The Franklin County Cattlemen Association adds to its mission: to contribute to the education of younger generations through cattlemen activities, such as reading programs, assisting Junior Leadership Programs, providing scholarships each year to students county-wide –and donating beef to consumer science departments.
The donation is in conjunction with October Beef Month, a month dedicated to promoting beef in order to increase demand in Alabama. The county county association, during the month, has promotions at 43 Grill in Russellville and 4th Street Grill in Red Bay to provide literature promoting beef and to answer question concerning the cattle industry in Alabama.
Smith said the success of the efforts of the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association “depends greatly on the cattle producers and citizens who support us through membership in the association and by support of our steak sandwich sales each year,” he said.
“Many people believe that because they might not have a cattle farm that they can’t be a member of our association,” he added. “That is a big misconception, as a large percentage of our membership are non-cattle producers; they are ordinary citizens who want to support our efforts at the county level, offering support through their membership.”
