Kentucky Livestock Coalition Meat Me At the Ballgame Event

For the second year, the Kentucky Livestock Coalition ran its Meat Me at the Table campaign – designed to encourage Kentuckians to make meat the centerpiece of their menus during National Grilling Month – throughout the month of July.

The Coalition hosted a Family Fun Night at Wild Health Field in Lexington on July 16, and despite the oppressive temperatures, the event was a success.

“We want to bring awareness of the livestock industry here in Kentucky to the forefront of consumers’ minds this month, and what better venue to do that than a baseball stadium where everyone is enjoying hamburgers, pork burgers, and hot dogs?” said Coalition President Caleb Ragland, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch. “This was a great place to reach families in Lexington, and with it being such an urban area, some of these folks don’t have the opportunity to talk to a farmer very often – if ever.”

Farmer-volunteers were on hand to visit with attendees, and the Coalition gave away prizes after an educational spin of the wheel. From meat thermometers, spatulas, and spice rub for grilling to “Meat Me at the Table” t-shirts, baseball fans walked away with not only some neat prizes, but more importantly with some knowledge. Everyone who spun the wheel was greeted with a fact about livestock, meat, or the feedstock-producing members of the Coalition. The two ponies brought in by Coalition member organization, The Kentucky Horse Council, attracted a great deal of attention, and several attendees took pictures with them.

Summer nights at the ballpark are supposed to be fun, and the mascot races did not disappoint. Costumed characters Bucky O’Chicken, Davie Drumstick, Sunny SideUp, Burt the Burger, Gabby Goat Brat, Daisy the Dairy Cow, and even Sizzler the Grill couldn’t keep up with overall winner Chris P. Bacon, who also proved to be a crowd favorite.

The farm families of the Kentucky Livestock Coalition are proud to provide safe, nutritious, affordable and delicious meat for your family. Whether you buy directly from a farmer or at a meat market or grocery store, you can feel confident in the quality of the meat provided by farm families. Kentucky’s livestock-producing families are committed to advancing environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable livestock farming practices while providing safe, affordable food. Whether your summer grilling plans include hamburgers and hot dogs, steaks and sausage, or chicken and chops, the farmers of the KLC invite you to “Meat Me at the Table.”

For more information on the Kentucky Livestock Coalition or the Meat Me at the Table campaign, visit www.KyLivestockCoalition.org.