Cattlemen share their message with local students

Franklin County Cattleman’s Association member Frank Mitchell spoke to students at Phil Campbell Elementary School last week about the importance of beef and cattle farming.

The Franklin County Cattleman’s Association is constantly active in the community helping with projects, raising money for the county’s youth, and trying to make a positive impact through their organization.
During the month of October, which is National Beef Month, members of the Cattlemen’s Association have been focused on education by helping students across the area understand the importance of beef.
Last week, Frank Mitchell, a local cattleman, visited Phil Campbell Elementary School to read students a book that illustrated the importance of beef and cattle farming, both as a source of food and nutrition and as a person’s livelihood.
Mitchell said cattlemen visited each school in the county as part of the Alabama Cattleman’s Association’s “Read Across Alabama” initiative.
Mitchell, who was a math teacher at Phil Campbell for 20 years before retiring, said education is one of the most important tools they can use to help the younger generations see how the benefits of cattle farming.
“We don’t want these kids to think that hamburgers come from a restaurant,” Mitchell said.
“That beef that makes up the hamburgers and steaks and other beef products they eat on a daily basis is provided because of the cattle industry, and we want them to understand how important that industry is to our county and to our community.
“There are many families here locally whose livelihood comes from cattle farming, and it’s important to support them.”
Retired teacher Mary Nell Burfield also volunteered last week to read a book on the importance of beef and cattle farming to PCES students.
After Mitchell and Burfield finished reading to the students, the books were donated by the Cattleman’s Association to the school’s library, which is what each cattleman who has read to students in each of the schools did also.
“We appreciate the Cattleman’s Association and Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Burfield for taking the time to read to our students and for donating these educational books to our library,” PCES principal Jackie Ergle said.
“This activity not only educates the children about health and nutrition but also encourages the children to read and learn about things they might not have known before.
“We appreciate the Cattleman’s Association and their willingness to invest in the lives of our students.”