The opposing response to Gov. Jared Polis’ MeatOut proclamation a few weeks ago occurred on a biblical scale all over the state of Colorado. Meat celebration events occurred in more than 75 cities and towns. It even leaked into Nebraska and Montana, where their chief executive did their best not to imitate Colorado’s administration. Dozens of “Beef, It’s What’s for Dinner” outings in virtually every beef growing region of the state filled the March 20 air with the smoke of grills cooking meat.

The “MeatIn” events in Montrose and Ouray drew nearly 2,000 people, who fed on burgers, hotdogs, lamb burgers, lamb chops and other meats.

Roxana Stewart, one of the organizers for the Montrose event, reported that in excess of 1,200 people attended the local event, which was staged at Danny and Brenda Castle’s Auto Sales lot on North Townsend. Stewart said the number may have been even higher. Her team used a click counter and tried to get everyone who came through the line, but it was impossible to tell if everyone was counted.

The event was staged by the Uncompaghre Cattlemen’s Association with help from Montrose Cattlewomen and the Western Slope Wool Growers. The Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel County Farm Bureau held an “AG APPRECIATION DAY.”

While the event was free and open to the public, the organizers accepted donations which went directly to the Montrose and Olathe Future Farmers chapters as well as Montrose County 4-H. “We took in about $7,000 in cash for the kids,” Stewart said. Of course, there were many in-kind donations of food, beverage, tables and chairs, paper plates and condiments.

Here is a list of the contributors to the first Montrose Meat Fest and celebration of agriculture:

Home Loan State Bank

Timberline Bank

American Ag Credit

U.S. Tractor

Montrose Implement

Western Implement

Pepsi Products

Uncompahgre Cattlemen’s Association

Montrose CattleWomen

Sunny View Church

Rocky Mountain Aggregates

Donald and Darlene Stanfield

Danny and Brenda Castle, Castle Auto Sales

John Murray

Snap On tools, Kevin Kindall

JC Propane, Sherry Cob

Western Slope Wool Growers

The Etchart Families

Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel Farm Bureau

Callaway Packing

Kinikin Processing

Good’s Processing

Western Gravel

Coffee Trader

Dean Soderquist Family

Producers Coop

Mark and Justin Covington Families

Ted’s Steak House

Jim’s Auction Service

Addy Gray Etter, Gary

TL Bar Ranch, Jerry and Jan Scharf

20 Sleeps West Realty, Debi Harmon

Cimarron Creek Construction, Andy Butler Family

Mike Clark Family

Rocky Mountain Ice

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