The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association has announced a two-phased plan to provide help in areas affected by last week’s storms. The first phase involves partnering with county cattlemen’s associations across the state that are preparing beef meals for tornado victims and relief workers. The second addresses needs of cattlemen in rebuilding fences and facilities following the storms.
“Like other groups, the first thought of our leadership was to address the need for humanitarian aid. However, we’re also taking an additional step to reach out to our fellow cattlemen who have a long road ahead of them,” says ACA’s Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell.
In the days following the April 27th tornados, members of local county cattlemen’s associations began setting up across North Alabama to grill hamburgers, steak sandwiches and other items to help feed the influx of relief workers as well as those affected by the storm.
“We have a big grill that we use all during the year for ribeye steak sandwich sale fundraisers. Because we saw this as an area we could help in, we put it to work helping to feed folks around Franklin County after the storm and have even worked with local schools to prepare meat left in their freezers since they lost power after the storm,” says Orland Britnell of Russellville, a past state President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.
To aid the county cattlemen’s associations which are preparing meals, thousands of dollars in Beef Gift Certificates have been dispersed to aid in buying beef.
As well, $10,000 from the Alabama 50 Cent Beef Checkoff has been committed as seed money to a “Cattlemen’s Relief Fund” within the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation to help cattlemen rebuild their operations. These monies will be distributed to cattlemen in the form of coupons to use in buying fencing and other materials at local farm stores.
“This disaster has affected so many people and so many cattlemen; we just want to do what we can to help,” says Powell.
Those interested in donating to relief efforts coordinated by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association can visit the association online at www.bamabeef.org or call 334-265-1867.