{"id":47796,"date":"2021-03-20T17:48:37","date_gmt":"2021-03-20T23:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southwest-colorado-responds-to-meatout-day-by-celebrating-meat\/"},"modified":"2021-03-20T23:48:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T23:48:37","slug":"southwest-colorado-responds-to-meatout-day-by-celebrating-meat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southwest-colorado-responds-to-meatout-day-by-celebrating-meat\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Colorado responds to MeatOut Day by celebrating meat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Hundreds
Hundreds of people showed up Saturday for the Southwest Colorado\u2019s Eat Meat BBQ at the Durango Harley-Davidson dealership. The event was held in response to Gov. Jared Polis\u2019 proclamation making it MeatOut Day.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Fans of Colorado\u2019s livestock industry gathered around the state Saturday to eat and promote meat in defiance of Gov. Jared Polis\u2019 proclamation that made Saturday a statewide MeatOut Day.<\/p>\n

In Durango, carnivorous community members gathered outside the Harley-Davidson dealership for Southwest Colorado\u2019s Eat Meat BBQ. The barbecue, hosted by the La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen\u2019s Association, featured free hamburgers, hot dogs and bratwurst, along with coleslaw and bacon and beans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re celebrating agriculture today,\u201d said Veronica Lasater, a member of the La Plata County Farm Bureau board. \u201cIt\u2019s the second-largest industry in Colorado, at $47 billion, and employs just under 200,000 people in the state. So we feel it\u2019s important to come together to just kind of celebrate meat and the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tom
Tom Arthur, left, and Jesse Lasater grill burgers, brats and hot dogs Saturday during Southwest Colorado&#x2019;s Eat Meat BBQ.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

She said event organizers were collecting donations that would go to her organization or to one all involved parties could agree on. The event was also sponsored by La Plata\/Archuleta County Cattlemen, La Plata County Cowbelles, Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association, Durango Harley-Davidson, Million Dollar Highway Saloon, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen\u2019s Association, the Beef Council and Hi Country Cattle Auction, among others.<\/p>\n

Lasater said the livestock industry \u201cis a huge contributor to our economy, and I think it\u2019s important that we voice our support.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that it was one of at least 115 similar barbecues being held across the state.<\/p>\n

Davin Montoya, a cattle rancher with a family ranch west of Hesperus, said he and longtime Ignacio sheep rancher J. Paul Brown came up with the idea for the barbecue shortly after hearing about Polis\u2019 proclamation. Montoya said another purpose of the event was to highlight the role of meat in a healthy diet.<\/p>\n

\"Sandy
Sandy Cooper brought her chuckwagon to the barbecue Saturday at the Harley-Davidson dealership.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cOur emphasis is on the healthy diet of protein and fats. The low-carb diet is more healthy than the high-carb we\u2019ve been told to eat for the last 50 years,\u201d Montoya said. \u201cThe high-carb has lots of fruits and vegetables and grains that they\u2019ve said we need to eat, and it\u2019s like, \u2018OK. Well, we\u2019ve got an obese society, we\u2019ve got high incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure.\u2019 By going with more meat and less carbs, they can fix all of those problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said displays at the event were put together to spotlight other nonmeat products that come from animal byproducts.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Durango, restaurants including the Strater Hotel, CJ\u2019s Diner, Zia Taqueria, Fur Trappers, Brenda\u2019s Old West Cafe, Porky\u2019s Smokehouse and Hi-Country Sale Barn Cafe offered \u201cMeat in the Menu\u201d meals Saturday.<\/p>\n

In Cortez, the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution proclaiming Saturday to be Cattlemen\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

The county resolution highlights economic benefits of the livestock industry, which provides 1,013 local jobs, or 8% of total jobs in the county, representing the fifth-highest job creator, according to 2018 data compiled by Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado<\/a>. The resolution says that in 2017, the sale value of Montezuma County cattle, calves, poultry and hogs exceeded $16 million.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, community members led a cattle drive and \u201cfreedom ride\u201d along Main Street in Cortez. Supporters met at the Ute Coffee Shop on Saturday morning to give speeches and coordinate their route along Main Street.<\/p>\n

\"Community
Community members organized a freedom ride along Main Street in Cortez on Saturday morning in support of the livestock industry.<\/span>Anthony Nicotera\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Ranchers and farmers also were joined by the Montezuma County Patriots, who gained public attention last summer for their weekly rallies and demonstrations on Cortez\u2019s Main Street. The demonstrations began as a way to support reopening businesses in town during coronavirus restrictions, then shifted to support first responders, the Second Amendment right to bear arms and then-President Donald Trump. The rallies displayed American, Christian, Confederate, Trump and Three-Percenter flags and were held across the street from a weekly Walk for Justice and Peace, which included supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement .<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Montezuma County Commissioner Joel Stevenson spoke in support of the \u201cMeatIn\u201d demonstration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat they\u2019re after is your Constitution,\u201d said local rancher Odis Sikes. \u201cThey are going at it hard and fast. They want your Constitution bad. But we are not going to let them do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tiffany Ghere, a leader of the Montezuma County Patriots, also spoke in front of the Ute Coffee Shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe No. 1 one export in Colorado is beef,\u201d Ghere said. \u201cOur water rights have been slowly removed from us. What happens if we can\u2019t feed our cattle? What happens if we can\u2019t water them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ghere also alluded to the governor\u2019s sexual orientation during her speech, drawing laughs from the audience. A male demonstrator carried a sign saying he would give up eating beef when Polis, the state\u2019s first openly gay governor, changed his sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

The ride was led by Buddy, a 3,000-pound steer, who was hauled along Main Street. A line of trucks and trailers followed, displaying signs praising the importance of beef to the local economy.<\/p>\n

Outside the state, the governors of Wyoming and Nebraska declared Saturday \u201cHearty Meat Day\u201d and \u201cMeat on the Menu Day,\u201d respectively.<\/p>\n

\"Buddy
Buddy the steer, weighing about 3,000 pounds, stands in front of the Ute Coffee Shop in Cortez before his ride.<\/span>Anthony Nicotera\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Eric Lindstrom, executive director of Farm Animal Rights Movement<\/a> \u2013 the organization that started the first MeatOut Day in 1985 \u2013 said the event began as a response to the Great American Smokeout, a campaign to get people to give up smoking. FARM decided to do the same thing but with meat. The nonprofit FARM promotes veganism and animal rights, and seeks to educate people about how their choices affect human health, the environment and animals through events such as MeatOut Day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s recognized around the world with food-ins, meetups, tabling demonstrations and now proclamations,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery year, we secure about half a dozen proclamations from cities, counties and state governments to proclaim MeatOut Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polis\u2019 proclamation encourages people to \u201cexplore the benefits and flavors of a wholesome plant-based diet,\u201d citing potential health benefits, such as lowered risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and diabetes. The proclamation also describes environmental benefits, including reducing Colorado\u2019s carbon footprint and preserving forests, grasslands and wildlife habitats.<\/p>\n

However, the proclamation also says, \u201cColorado is the proud home to farmers and ranchers alike and we recognize the importance of agriculture in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

On March 11, Polis signed a proclamation declaring Monday to be Colorado Livestock Proud Day. In it, Polis says, \u201cFarmers and ranchers raise livestock to provide nutritious, affordable protein for families across the state, and throughout the nation, and animal proteins supply the body with essential nutrients, including sources of zinc, vitamins B12 and D, and fatty acids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindstrom said there are typically at least a half-dozen MeatOut Day proclamations every year, but this year\u2019s proclamation by Polis opened a Pandora\u2019s box of defiance and the creation of events attempting to counter the goals of MeatOut Day.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds
Hundreds of people showed up Saturday for Southwest Colorado&#x2019;s Eat Meat BBQ.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThis one-day proclamation by Gov. Polis has exposed, we think, somewhat of a weakness in food systems,\u201d Lindstrom said. \u201cIt shows how sensitive the cattlemen, poultry farmers and other meat processors are to what is really just a one-day event for people to consider a plant-base diet. It\u2019s not a law. It\u2019s not a rule. The proclamation is written very clearly to say, \u2018Hey, why don\u2019t you try just one day without meat?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He points out that most dishes can be made vegan by substituting alternatives for animal-based products, and despite the negative response this year, he said he looks forward to seeing in-person MeatOut Day events in 2022.<\/p>\n

Journal staff writers Jim Mimiaga and Anthony Nicotera contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n

ngonzales@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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