celebrate ‘what’s for dinner’

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

October is National Beef Month and the Pike County Cattlewomen are taking advantage of the nation-wide promotion to do some promoting of their own.

They are singing the praises of beef – for dinner, supper and breakfast, too, and well they should. The Pike County organization is the third largest Cattlewomen’s Association in Alabama. Their companion organization, the Pike Count Cattlemen, is the largest Cattlemen’s organization in the state and both organizations are sold on beef.

It’s only natural, then, that the Pike County Cattlewomen are very involved in the month-long promotion of their product, and are also year-long promoters of the state’s beef program.

As a feature of the beef promotion for the month of October, Ed Whatley, from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, will be at Winn-Dixie Oct. 26 demonstrating how easy it is to prepare beef and to give samples of the differently prepared meats. Whatley will also be at Tailgate Terrace for TSU’s homecoming Saturday with a "Beef – It’s What for Tailgating, Too," booth.

"We have a product that is easy to promote because it’s good tasting and good for you," said Dale Griffin, secretary of the Pike Count Cattlewomen. "We have a very active organization and we join the cattlemen in promoting beef throughout our county and our state. Cattle is big business and plays an important role in our economy."

However, the Cattlemen do more than raise quality cattle for market and the Cattlewomen do more than promote, cook and eat the product.

Several years ago, the Pike County Cattlemen Foundation embarked on a project that many thought was an impossible dream – the dream of building an agricultural complex in the county. But with a lot of hard work and a never-give-up attitude, anything is possible

The Cattlemen believed; they worked hard and kept their hands to the plow and others, too, began to believe. On Memorial Day weekend 2001, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Cattleman Park Convention and Exposition Center and a dream became reality.

"Already, Cattleman Park is having an impact on Pike County," Griffin said "It is an outstanding facility that allows us to provide for a variety of activities and events. When people come into Pike County for an event at Cattleman Park, they spend money so the park is helping the economy, too.

"Cattleman Park is being widely used and use of the facility will continue to increase as more people learn what a outstanding and versatile facility it is. We got off to a great start with the Professional Cowboy Association (PCA) Rodeo in May, And, we had a very successful high school rodeo in September and we hope to make that an annual event, just like the PCA rodeo. We have a bull riding event set for Nov. 10."

Cattleman Park was also the site of a luncheon hosted by the city of Brundidge for Gov. Don Siegelman, representatives from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., city and county officials and members of the business community. The luncheon capped off a big event in the county – the official announcement that Brundidge had been selected as the site for the company’s newest and largest distribution center.

Auctions, family reunions, class reunions, pageants, banquets, gospel meetings and gospel singings have all be held at Cattleman Park.

"It is multipurpose building and it’s a wonderful asset for the Pike County community," Griffin said. "The Farm City Banquet will be held at Cattleman Park Nov. 15 and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce banquet is planned there for Nov. 29. It’s going to be a busy place."

The Cattlewomen stay busy with activities and events of their own. They participated in the Peanut Butter Festival in Brundidge, Oct. 20 and will attend the Alabama Cattlewomen Association’s regional meeting today and the Troy State University Appreciation Day parade and activities Saturday.

"Two members, Betty Hixon and Tammy Powell, of our association were nominated for the Professional Woman of the Year Award presented by the City of Troy, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and the Pike County Business Women’s Association," Griffin said. "Tammy received the award and was very deserving. We were proud of both of our nominees. They are outstanding professionals."

Griffin said the Cattlewomen and Cattlemen receive outstanding support from all aspects of the Pike County community.

"We want to take the opportunity of the exposure the Cattlewomen and Cattlemen get during National Beef Month to say thank you to all of those who support our organizations in the many different ways," she said. "And, we want to especially thank all those who eat beef."

For more information about beef, its nutritional value and recipes using the Cattlewomen’s favorite meat, look up these web sites: www. bamabeer.org; www.beef.org; www.beef.org/kitchen/recipes; www.beefnutrition.org or www.burgertown.kidscom.com/.