While attending Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition held in conjunction with the Stockyards Stampede in Oklahoma City this past Saturday, Maci Carter caught up with one of the organizers, Kelli Payne of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation.
This was the third annual competition which highlights and connects Oklahoma’s Beef Producers with the public. Eight teams vied for the title, all of them with a branded beef line of their own.
“This is a great way for them to come out and meet our urban friends,” Payne said. “It also gives folks a chance to put a face with where their food comes from.”
The community’s feedback was all positive and many wished it was held every weekend. Payne heard from attendees that it was nice to meet the cattle ranchers, and the competitors appreciated the exposure they gained through the event.
“The turnout has been phenomenal,” Payne said. “There is just a lot that brings people down here with the Stockyards Stampede going on, too, but the smell of those steaks cooking the grills really lures them in!”
OCA used to host a sanctioned steak cookoff for people to qualify for a national event, until 2022 when it was suggested that they host an event only for local producers. The post-pandemic environment had pushed many producers to start their own brands of products as the store shelves were often bare or too much of a risk to reach.
“The Cattlemen’s Association and the Cattlemen’s Association really wanted to promote what is here in Oklahoma,” Payne explained.
Each year that the event is held, more and more people come to meet the producers and sample the beef. To Payne, it is a sure sign that the public wants to know where their food is coming from and the people who are producing it for them.
“I can’t say enough good about these contestants,” Payne said. “Some of them offer catering, some have storefronts, some use drop locations, food trucks, and even restaurants. They have really pushed to envelope of what you can do to diversify an operation when you are willing to put the work in.”
Some of the teams have competed every year since 2022, and there were two new teams competing this year. Payne hopes that the event continues to grow and the strength of the connections created between producers and consumers continues to grow and thrive. Payne talked more about the Stockyards Stampede and the other activities it hosted. Click on the listen bar above to hear the full conversation.
