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A Year of Service—The All American Beef Battalion
By: Amanda Nolz
For: TSLN Special Edition
March 1, 2009
When a young man or woman enlists as a soldier, it’s no small sacrifice. Gripping an M-16, this brave soldier travels to foreign lands, leaving behind the comforts of home, saying goodbye to friends and family and knowing it might be the last time to touch American soil. This soldier knows that freedom doesn’t come free and is willing to give up his or her life to preserve that American ideal. Since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, over 600,000 people have given their lives to protect America’s freedom.
The American dream was formed by the belief that every person has an equal opportunity to find success and happiness. Ranchers hold on tight to this American dream as they utilize the land and livestock to feed the world. Not many people understand the sacrifices of an American soldier, and not many people comprehend the dedication of an American rancher. Vietnam veteran and cattleman, Bill Broadie, understands both, and his goal is to give soldiers a taste of the American dream with steak feeds of appreciation.
All American Beef Battalion gets its start
Bill Broadie of Ashland, Kans. had a vision to create a non-profit organization called the All American Beef Battalion (AABB). Broadie is a fourth generation cattleman who served with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam in 1967. Broadie teamed up with a group of dedicated individuals including: Jim Odle, Larry Bilberry, Kevin Kay, Kevin Hathaway and Craig Mock, to secure non-profit status for the organization in Aug. of 2007. Shortly after, the organization started receiving monetary donations from people in support of the idea of promoting American beef while thanking soldiers for their sacrifices.
“I thank the Lord for helping to get this organization up and running as quickly as it did,” said Broadie. “I also thank the everyday, ordinary Americans who truly care about the troops. Farmers, electricians, insurance agents, cooks and regular country boys have all pitched in to help make these steak feeds possible. Anyone can get involved in this organization, and it’s such a rewarding group to be a part of.”
AABB hosted its first steak feed on April 26, 2008 in Olathe, Kans., and the organization will be celebrating its year anniversary with a steak feed in April. By the first year mark, the AABB will have fed steaks to 10,000 service members and their families.
“Hosting an AABB steak feed is both totally exhausting and completely fulfilling,” said Broadie. “It feels great to be able to promote great-tasting beef while showing our appreciation of the young men and women that serve our nation. AABB is dedicated to presenting a positive message about a quality beef product served by quality people that care about the troops. ”
Grilled to perfection
A steak feed sponsored by the AABB doesn’t come without a lot of hard work. Funded by donations, the AABB works to finance a full meal for the troops, both returning and deploying. There is little debate that a thick, juicy steak is a little piece of the American dream, and the chefs that work with AABB are dedicated to providing the troops with just that. AABB works with the Beef Empire Days PRCA Rodeo Committee that cooks to fundraise for their rodeo events. Using rotisserie cookers that hold a maximum of 400 steaks, the committee can prepare a large number of steaks with ease. When the group travels, they haul a freezer, a cooker and thousands of dollars worth of steak to get the job done. Jon Fort works with the group and has served as an instrumental leader in planning and preparing the meals for the steak feeds. Fort agrees with Broadie’s sentiment that working with AABB has been a rewarding journey.
“It takes a lot of time and planning to get meals ready for these steak feeds,” said Fort. “However, I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for the world. Every event, I’m deeply touched by the soldiers who have experienced hardships of war. We appreciate what these young people do very much. It’s a very heart warming experience to be able to say thanks.”
Fort recalled serving The Wounded Warriors, a group of young men and women that have suffered severe injuries in war. While the events can sometimes be sad, other times are joyous, Fort explained, as one group returned home with every person in their military unit. Whether a celebration of a returning group or a sad day of deployment, AABB is there to give their appreciation. Fort said that these events can get expensive, and in order for them to continue hosting the steak feeds, they need the community’s support.
“We don’t want to compromise when it comes to giving these kids a great event that they will remember,” said Fort. “We are driven to growing this organization and reaching as many individuals as possible. In order to show our thanks for their service to our country, we need support from the community.”
Get involved
Broadie and Fort encourage anyone that is interested to get involved in AABB. To learn more about AABB and the steaks for troops initiative, check out www.steaksfortroops.com. Once there, visitors can view photos from past events, read about the organization and make a donation. Supporters of AABB can also purchase raffle tickets to win a new Honda 4X4 ATV. Superior Livestock Auction sponsored the four-wheeler. Tickets are $50, and the drawing will be held in Denver, Col. in September. Winners don’t need to be present to win. After a year of service, AABB is still going strong, filling the calendar with upcoming events. Between Feb. and May, AABB will be hosting seven more steak feeds. In their year anniversary, feeding 10,000 servicemen and their families is certainly a large feat. Without a doubt, AABB is a non-profit organization that is truly dedicated to both promoting the beef industry and showing appreciation to the individuals that serve the United States. Without a doubt, feeding a soldier a steak is truly giving them a taste of the American dream. |
