I have been involved with the Bureau County Cattlemen since 1986. This organization does a tremendous job of supporting the community in Bureau County, and I would like to tell you about their activities.

The Cattlemen offer scholarships to Illinois Beef Association members’ children. The amounts vary, depending on the number of applicants, but usually $500 - $750. We have been doing this for more than 20 years.

We all know that schools have very tight budgets, so the Cattlemen have sent $200 per year to each of the four high schools that have foods classes. The teachers can use this money to buy beef for cooking class, visit a butcher shop or however the teacher deems fit to help the kids better understand how to prepare and/or buy beef. We have also been able to work with the Illinois Beef Association to get the class multiple recipes, beef cookbooks, and beef cut charts. This project has a 12-year history.