What's your beef?

This past week was “CAFNR Week” at the University of Missouri.  This was a week to celebrate the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources.  It consisted of a super farmer, road rally, and washer’s tournament, mud volleyball, skit night, a hypnotist and my favorite- Great Grill-Off!

Each event was hosted by an organization on campus and what better event for the Mizzou Collegiate CattleWomen to host than the Great Grill-Off?

Beef on the grill

At 11:00 on a stormy, Sunday morning the grills were fired up on campus.  Burgers, shish-kebabs and flat iron steaks were just some of the items on the hot grills.  The Mizzou Collegiate CattleWomen (MCCW) had three teams participating and it was clear that they knew their “beef”.  One of the teams cooked marinated, flat-iron steaks with a side of bacon wrapped shrimp.  Another team cooked tenderized flat-iron steaks with a side of cheesy potatoes.  The third MCCW team served garlic herb hamburgers with a side of asparagus. 

Kelsey Cornell, MCCW member, preparing her garlic herb burgers for the judges.

While the event may have came off as solely a cooking contest it was also a great way to celebrate food prepared by America’s family farmers.     Did you know that 97 percent of America’s farms are family owned and operated?  Producing food, and caring for animals, is a family tradition handed down and improved upon from generation to generation.



Beef is also a nutritious meal for yours and my family.  Lean beef is one of the most flavorful and efficient ways to meet the daily value for 10 essential nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins.  Beef also provides 20 grams of protein per serving.  Twenty-nine cuts of beef meet government guidelines for lean. 

Tenderized steaks

Beef farmers and ranchers live in all 50 states.  Many are active members of their communities and belong to organizations, like local school boards, church councils and social clubs.  They’re also hard working people, dedicated to providing safe, wholesome and nutritious beef.  Their consistent care for animals and improvements to farms and ranches are vital to making sure America has the safest, most environmentally friendly beef supply in the world.

When you fire up the grill for your steaks, or turn on your stove for your hamburger helper remember to thank a farmer.  The Great Grill-Off was a great way to showcase beef in Columbia- how will you show your appreciation?

Drew Montague and myself- winners of Great Grill-Off!