Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Hally Parks with the Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association to talk about the third annual Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition to be held in Stockyards City in Oklahoma City, during the Stockyards Stampede on October 19. Tasting will be between 11 am and 4 pm.
The competition is between twelve Oklahoma cattle producers who will grill steaks and offer samples to attendees. The steaks will be judged by a panel of Oklahomans, and awards will be presented for the top three steaks and a People’s Choice Award winner.
The OCA is currently taking applications for cattle producers to compete at the event. Interested ranchers can check the requirements and enter at OklahomaCattlemansFoundation.com. Parks said to click on Events, scroll down, and click on the Best Beef tab to find the application. Applications will close on August 19.
“It’s nothing too crazy,” Parks said. “We just want to get to know each of the applicants from across the state of Oklahoma. Later, our committee will vote to determine the twelve competitors. This is a huge educational event for us. The Stockyard Stampede brings in a great variety of people from around the state: people who do have a background in agriculture and some who do not. So, if you are a producer, you can put yourself in front of all of these people and get a chance to get to know them and explain why you do what you do and how you do it.”
The event began as an outreach for people who may not know about beef or the agricultural community. “It is one of our favorite events and we believe that it has a big impact on the community,” Parks said.
Attendees can hear how a producer got started and for how many generations their family has been producing beef, even if it is only one. “You can really learn about generational agriculture, and tying this back to our convention where we talked about leaving a legacy, this is a great way for producers to leave their legacy,” Parks explained. “So maybe that fourth or fifth generation rancher or that first generation rancher can make their mark on some of those attendees.”
Andy’s Custards will also be set up to offer frozen custards, and Bubba, a Hereford bull, will be on-site to interact with people. There will also be a face painting booth set up.
“Hopefully, lots of people will come to hang out with us and get to know our local farmers and ranchers,” Parks said.
