At the Oklahoma National Stockyards during the final sale of the year on Monday, attention turned to a special rollover sale of a single calf that supported the All American Beef Battalion’s Steaks for Troops program. The calf was sold multiple times, with over $44,000 raised (with donations still being accepted)- that will push the amount raised over the years by National Livestock to $750,000.
Jon Fort, chairman of the board, explained to senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays that the mission behind the effort and his long personal involvement. “I’m the chair,” Fort said, as he reflected on how the organization has grown from a simple idea into a nationwide volunteer operation.
Fort traced his connection back to the very first event in April 2008, when he received a call asking if he could help feed deploying National Guard members in Olathe, Kansas. “We had 450 National Guardsmen that were being deployed to Iraq, and I said, ‘Sure. I’m not sure how, but we’ll get it done,’” Fort recalled. From that first meal, Fort and his partner steadily expanded their capacity, eventually building a fleet of trailers and equipment to serve troops across the country.
Since then, the reach of Steaks for Troops has been extensive. Fort noted that the group has served nearly half a million meals nationwide. “We’ve been in 29 states,” he said, adding that “457,500” service members and families have been fed overall, with about 6,500 served just this year. Entirely volunteer-driven, Fort emphasized that no one involved is paid, and all proceeds go directly toward honoring service members.
At the heart of the mission, Fort said, is a simple but powerful gesture of gratitude inspired by the organization’s founder. “The whole purpose is to say thank you to our service men and women,” Fort explained, crediting founder Bill Brody, a wounded Vietnam veteran. Brody believed there was no better way to show appreciation than to “serve our young men and women a ribeye… shake their hand and say thank you for your service,” something he himself never experienced when he returned home.
Fort also highlighted the long-standing support from Oklahoma’s agricultural community through National Livestock. The annual rollover auction, where the same heifer is sold multiple times, has become a cornerstone fundraiser. “This will be the 12th year they’ve been cooperating with us,” Fort said, noting that the auction has generated roughly $702,000 in charitable contributions. “It goes a long ways,” he added, calling the support “very humbling.”
Among many memories, one experience at Fort Carson stands out most vividly for Fort. He recalled arriving ahead of a deployment during a historic snowstorm. “I think it snowed 17 inches while we were there,” he said, yet the gym was packed with soldiers and families. After later learning that several of those troops were lost overseas, Fort reflected on the emotional weight of the work. “That was pretty heartwarming and heart-wrenching, both,” he said, underscoring why Steaks for Troops remains so meaningful to him and the volunteers who continue answering the call.
Fort says the organization relies entirely on donations and grassroots support to keep the mission going. “There’s a number of ways you can help,” he explained. “You can go to steaksfortroops.com, and we’ve got a website where you can make a charitable contribution.” He emphasized that supporters can also reach out directly for guidance, saying, “They can reach out to me, and I can get them directed,” reinforcing that every contribution goes toward saying thank you to America’s service men and women.
