By MELISSA HART
Michigan Correspondent

ASHLAND, Kan. — Since April of 2008 the All-American Beef Battalion (AABB) headed by Kansan Bill Broadie has put on twelve steakfeeds from Montana to Texas encouraging soldiers, feeding their families and promoting U.S. raised beef.

Created to support the United States military by serving each soldier a steak dinner, the AABB has tasted success in the first year and looks forward to feeding more soldiers in the months ahead.
“These soldiers come up to us and thank us for the free steak dinner and all I can think is I’ve got a pretty good deal; I serve them one day of the year while they serve me 365 days of the year,” commented Broadie.

Putting on steakfeeds for six deployments, four homecomings and two wounded warrior units Broadie said the families are very appreciative of the dinners. He added, “We get cards back from the wives thanking us for what we’re doing and I’ve gotten plaques from other units. The soldiers and the commanders are extremely grateful.”

When Broadie began this endeavor he hoped it would be successful but he never dreamed the response from the military would be so appreciative.

He explained, “The initial reaction to the invitation to the steakfeed is that they want their units to be fed and they ask me where they can get the meat. When I tell them we provide everything they can’t believe it.” He continued, “They have a hard time thinking that anyone will come in and do that for them.”

At each steakfeed the soldiers are fed, thanked and then Broadie gives a short presentation about his experience as a Marine who served in Vietnam. Having lost a leg in combat and now wearing a prosthetic leg, Broadie is able to relate to the soldiers about their experiences and relates that there is life after being wounded in a war.

He said, “When I talk to a group I tell them it’s alright to have your own pity party, but I’ve got the advantage because I can take my leg off and kick myself in the butt and get going.”

Volunteers from the beef industry make these steakfeeds happen. A group of individuals travel from place to place, setting up, cooking the steaks, feeding the troops and then they clean everything up too.

Kyle Bauer of Clay Center, Kan., farm broadcaster and former beef producer has helped at four events and enjoys volunteering. He commented, “I believe strongly that the people serving in our military don’t realize how many American’s truly appreciate their sacrifice and understand that it is a sacrifice. I want to do what I can to help them realize we appreciate them.”

Bauer elaborated on the atmosphere of the steakfeeds he has served.

“The atmosphere is different at each, but I am touched by how much the troops appreciate being thanked,” he said. “One reservist told me, he had been in Vietnam, Desert Storm and now Iraq and this was the first time anyone had told him thank you.”

Having been a beef producer himself, Bauer commented that using U.S. raised beef to say thank you to the troops has far reaching implications beyond a simple dinner. He’s convinced if the rest of the agriculture industry witnessed a steakfeed they would all jump on the bandwagon.

He explained, “The steaks that are served are literally the largest, best steaks that most of these solders have ever seen. They are amazing and something the entire cattle industry would be proud of.”

He continued, “The world of agriculture should not only endorse this effort but should support it. It is a patriotic, high profile, well executed, non-commercial way to show our products to a huge portion of the population with an exponential opportunity to affect a lot of consumers long-term. All the solders have families and friends and they can’t help but talk about it.”

One of the more memorable events was when the staff from the TV show, Cowboy Church showed up to tape a show for their weekly RFD-TV program. They helped serve the steaks and had church with the troops.

Broadie said, “That was a great time for the troops and for the staff at Cowboy Church, they didn’t expect it to be so heartwarming.”
Several more steakfeeds are on the calendar in the months ahead and on April 25, 2009, exactly one year from their first steakfeed, they expect to have fed 10,000 soldiers. With support from the beef industry the goal of feeding a steak dinner to every United States soldier can be reached.

For more information about the All-American Beef Battalion or to support it financially, log on to www.steaksfortroops.com