Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times

Local cattle ranchers are preparing to host folks from the community for the annual Meat-In Day celebration, set for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday March 15, at the Mesa County Fairgrounds.

The event, which started in response to Gov. Jared Polis’ “Meat-Out Day” proclamation in 2021, has become a community staple, offering local producers a chance to connect with the public and celebrate beef and beef agriculture.

“It’s a great opportunity for local ranchers and our organization, as well as other food producers across the valley, to connect with the general public,” cattle rancher Dean VanWinkle said. “We usually give out somewhere around 1,000 hamburgers for free.”

This year, two ranchers are donating beef for the event: VanWinkle Ranch and Way Out West Livestock. In addition to beef, attendees can expect a variety of meats, including pork and chicken to be sampled out by local food trucks.  

VanWinkle also said J Brack and Sons Trucking will bring its cattle pot, a semitrailer used for hauling livestock, for kids to tour.

The event will feature booths from local vendors, a bounce house, a carriage ride tour for kids, and livestock, including a cow-calf pair and a family milk cow. VanWinkle said that in past years the event has attracted a crowd that is less familiar with agriculture, which was the intended goal.

“The very first year we put it on, we were planning on 500 to 600 people,” VanWinkle recalled. “It’s continued to get a little bigger each year.”

Entertainment will include Rick Mancuso and The Five Star Band and a cash bar operated by Clark and Co’s Distilling of Palisade. 

As the Meat-In Day celebration grows, so does the recognition of agriculture’s importance to Mesa County’s economy. VanWinkle pointed to research from Colorado State University Extension, showing that each cow in Mesa County contributes between $600 and $800 to the local economy.

With nearly $94 million in total agricultural products sold in Mesa County annually, including more than $48 million in livestock sales alone, the event not only brings the community together but also highlights the significant role local meat plays in sustaining the economy.