My Very Busy, Beef-Filled November!

Hopefully, your Thanksgiving break was as awesome as mine!

When Turkey day finally rolled around this year, I was so excited to have a break! My November was packed with the most amazing beef-related events, and I just had to share them with you all.

I love to fill as many weekends as I can with volunteering within my county's Cattlemen's Association or the state association. The weekend of November 16th - 18th, I was able to do both!

As the county Cattlemen's Sweetheart for 2 years in a row (I gave up that title in May this past year), I was able to attend the "Farm City Week" luncheon provided for the tour buses that led residents and visitors around our wonderful county. The tour takes the passengers to different farms and shows them firsthand what Manatee County's agriculture is all about. Last year I offered to help in any way that I could, and this year I was asked about being a tour guide!

I LOVED being a tour guide! I was able to share facts, Ag-related jokes and stories, and I met some awesome people in the process. I invited our current sweetheart to ride along on the bus. If something like this is offered in your area, I highly recommend getting involved. If it's not something offered, look into what it would take to start it. I would talk to some of the farmers in your area, and see if they would be interested in an event or something of that nature! People love to shop locally, and if they can connect a product with a name, face or even family, that would make a huge impact on their impression of our industry!

The next day I led a part of our annual prospect show's workshop for the exhibitors. It's another Farm City Week event, and it's one of my favorites. I used to show and attend the workshop, (it's mandatory, but still fun) and now I'm leading my own workshop! I spoke to the kids about the variety of careers in agriculture available, and it was an awesome time! We even got to cook some steak on a grill with some of the more advanced "show jocks" and spoke to them about grades of meat and how to check for quality. It was an awesome time, and I love hanging out with those kids. You won't find a better quality of youth then you will at your local fair.

The event on Sunday was a little more adult than the previous two. Last year, I was asked to attend the Clearwater Uncorked Food and Wine festival to help out the Florida Beef Council showcasing some of our delicious steak. Last year, the steak was marinated in Sam Adam's, this year, we used Everglades seasoning. DELICIOUS. I tried to leave the samples on the platters for everyone else, but every now and then, I'd do a "beef shot". I'm only human!!

These events always leave me wanting more... BEEF. The people involved are amazing, the kids are great, and I leave feeling satisfied and so happy. I know that if my career path leads me into this industry, I'll never truly work a day in my life! Happy Holidays, thanks for reading!

The Beef Queen

Local Beef: Worth the Hype?

My cousins raise beef at a local farm in Bradenton, Florida. Their cattle are a Maine Angus/Simmental cross, and they make delicious burgers! The beef is sold at the King Ranch in Bradenton, and it is raised right at the ranch. Every season, the ranch hosts a "farm stand", similar to a farmer's market and many local people come out to enjoy the goodies and live music.

I love helping them sell the beef because even though I didn't raise it, I feel proud that local farms are offering people yet another way to enjoy beef in their daily routine. I took a few pictures, but the day was fairly busy as we sold burgers from 11am till people stopped coming! The burgers were made from the beef sold inside the refrigerated room at the small building near the entrance. There were also plants and honey for sale, with a number of other local food options. Dakin Dairy, a dairy based out of Myakka city, sells milk there, as well as at the local Publix supermarkets, which we are super proud of as well.

I love burgers as much as the next person, and you can't beat a locally grown burger. They tend to be a little more expensive, as they take longer to raise and produce, but it sure is worth it. Local is a way to go!

A very happy customer,

The beef queen

My manicure. Had to go all out!

Posing for a pic while Gene does all the work cooking :)

The stand has a room with a fridge, where all the meat is kept, along with informational materials!