Agricultural News
Cattle Community Comes Together to Support Veterans Returning from Combat at OKC Stockyards
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:05:15 CST
CEO Robert York and National Livestock Credit have been involved with the All-American Beef Battalion for seven years now. This December, NLC will host its eighth charity auction to benefit the project that feeds soldiers returning home from combat missions a steak dinner. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with York to talk about the project and why it has become a heartwarming tradition at the Oklahoma National Stockyards. He explained how he first got involved after meeting Bill Broadie, a Vietnam veteran who spearheads the All-American Beef Battalion. Click or tap the LISTEN BAR below to hear their complete conversation.
"I got to know Bill Broadie several years ago," York said. "Bill suffered some loss when he was in Vietnam, but he manages to live a full life and gives everything he's got every day. He wasn't just warmly welcomed when he got home and it put something in his heart to receive these soldiers when they come home from combat missions and it really inspired me."
In an effort to help Bill fund this project, York leads NLC every year in a charity auction selling off a calf multiple times to collect donations from those who gather to participate in the last auction day of the year at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.
The calf to be auctioned is again being donated by 3C Cattle Feeders and the Clyde Runyan family of Mill Creek, Oklahoma. Clyde and Penny, along with their sons, have donated the calf for 5 years now. Clyde was with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam and considers this a privilege to be able to give back to the troops.
"Today, we've raised $319,000," York proudly reported. "It costs about $10 apiece to feed these guys, so about 31,900 soldiers we've helped to give a welcome home meal to since we started this project."
York invites anyone who wishes to get involved in this worthwhile cause, to join them Monday, December 18, 2017 and bid on the calf, which will be on the auction block at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the sale arena of the Stockyards. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support the cause, you can call Debbie for your proxy bid or you may also visit the All American Beef Battalion web site ( www.steaksfortroops.com ) and make your donation by PayPal. National Livestock will invoice bidders and contributors and will forward all funds to the All American Beef Battalion. All checks should be made payable to the All American Beef Battalion.
"Many organizations and individuals have joined together for this worthy cause each year. The efforts of many have made this successful and we thank all our partners and friends for their help," York remarked. "The cattle community is like none that I've ever seen. People are more than willing to give a little bit of a thank you - and I am blown away by the support we've had."
Click here to see a story from last year, in speaking with the creator of the All American Beef Battalion project, Bill Broadie.
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