The Butlers did it!

Stephenville Smokehouse plays major
part in "Operation: BEEF UP Our Troops"

by Mike Tummillo

Micah and Lacy Butler, owners of Butler's Smokehouse in Stephenville, are patriotic Americans. So, it stands to reason that their newest contract with the USO has them beside themselves with excitement. "We're extremely privileged to be a part of what can be done to help America's troops," said the 34-year old Micah. Having started their USDA-inspected smokehouse facility back in 1999, Butler marvels at how they wound up with a contract which would send thousands of packages of beef jerky – one of the most requested items from home – to our men and women serving overseas. "It was really amazing the way a friend of ours overheard the right people at the right time talking about this contract...one thing led to another and we were awarded this world-wide contract, mainly because the others could not guarantee American beef and we could."

"Operation: BEEF UP Our Troops" is a program to raise money for supplying high quality beef jerky to American soldiers abroad. According to the Colorado Beef Council, in just three weeks after initiating the program in mid-December, over $30,000 was raised to buy beef jerky for American troops with more dollars rolling in from various individuals as well as a cross section of farm, ranch, and rural groups across the U.S.A. Examples include the Indiana Jr. Beef Cattle Association, which started a fundraising drive at Hoosier Beef Congress and raised over $2,000 for the purchase of beef jerky. The TriState G&T Association, a provider of electricity to 44 rural electric cooperatives in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico, has also pledged funds to the project. The American Farm Bureau Federation is conducting a fund-raising campaign with their membership as well.

Jeff Sandford, President/CEO of the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce said, "Stephenville is proud to be home to Butler’s Smokehouse. The quality, service and products this business delivers continue to set the standard in their industry, and The Chamber is honored to showcase the leadership of Micah and Lacy as they honor our brave American troops."

Great idea. Now what?

Don Taylor, Jr. was driving down a Kansas highway to call on a customer when he began thinking about America's troops. Some friends had informed him that the number one item requested by troops in their USO care packages is beef jerky. That got Taylor to thinking about how America's beef industry could do their share to support the fight for freedom.

Taylor concluded that the best way to encourage the troops is to provide them with items they actually prefer. From that point on, Taylor was on a mission. Now, to make it happen. Looking for direction, his first call was to Larry McNeff, President of SarTec. From there, McNeff talked to Stan Rogers, the SarTec representative in Colorado and who is well-known in the Colorado Beef Council. Rogers took the matter up with the Colorado Beef Council who quickly warmed to the idea. Soon, the USO got involved and Taylor's notion quickly took on a life of its own.

To date, $155,000 has been collected for this program by the USO. Butler's Smokehouse responded to the call to make the beef jerky from 100% American Beef. Now, most importantly, the troops are getting more of what they like.

Where's the beef...jerky, that is!

Each month, the USO is sending up to 30,000 care packages to our troops overseas through “Operation USO Care Package.” Currently, beef jerky is only included in the care packages when the USO receives donations earmarked specifically for "Operation: BEEF UP Our Troops." This is an excellent opportunity for America’s farming and ranching families, who produce the best beef in the world, to say 'thank you' to our service personnel.

Reciting from memory, Micah added, "All the beef jerky funded through this program, will feature a label on the packaging that reads: 'Donated by America’s farming and ranching families. We thank you for your service to our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.'"

If you would like to help send beef jerky to our troops via USO Care packages, call 1-800-876-7469 or eMail troops@cobeef.com.