By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — More than 200 people enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hot dogs in the lawn of Michigan’s Capitol on March 20.

Barry County farmer George Hubka organized the barbecue in response to Gov. Jennifer Granholm declaring Michigan Meatout Day on March 20 – the same day as National Agriculture Day.
“When I first heard about the Meatout Day, I thought how would anybody of that person’s stature – the governor – insult Michigan’s agriculture industry to that degree,” Hubka said. “Agriculture is the state’s second largest industry – the largest growing industry in Michigan – and I just felt something had to be done.

“I’m a farmer. I have friends who are beef farmers, I’ve raised hogs over the years and I grew up on a dairy farm,” Hubka said. “I just know the value of agriculture in Michigan. I wanted to do something that would get the public’s attention.”

The governor’s meatout proclamation was part of a nationwide campaign known as the Great American Meatout. The campaign encourages people across the United States to forego meat and animal-based products “and explore a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.” The promotion – on the books since 1985 – has resulted in similar proclamations from 30 other states.

However, in Michigan it drew criticism from a variety of the state’s agricultural organizations, lawmakers, farmers and concerned citizens. One of the issues cited by many was that Michigan Meatout Day was to occur on the same day as National Agriculture Day, which has been observed on the first day of spring since 1973.
Although several industry officials called for Granholm to rescind the Meatout Day proclamation, she refused. Instead, the state’s top leader responded by issuing a second proclamation naming March 20 Michigan Agriculture Day.

Hubka said he heard about Meatout Day on a Wednesday night – just three days before it was to occur on Saturday. He spent the better part of the next day on the phone, enlisting the help of volunteers and asking agricultural groups for food donations and financial support. By the end of the day, Hubka said all the people he talked with “were more enthusiastic about it than I was. That just encouraged it more. If there was any doubt about it, by then it was gone.”

Many agricultural organizations and businesses supported the cause.

Hot dogs for the barbecue were donated by Michigan’s turkey growers through the Michigan Turkey Producers Co-op of Grand Rapids. Sobie Meats and Byron Center Meats in Grand Rapids, donated the hamburgers.

White and chocolate milk was secured through Michigan Milk Producers Assoc. (MMPA) and processed by Prairie Farms dairy in Battle Creek, and Sara Lee and Butternut baking companies donated buns. Cooking for the event was coordinated by Clint’s Hot Dogs of Lansing and Linn Merindorf of Merindorf Meats of Mason and Williamston.

 Additional sponsorship for the activity was provided through donations from the Michigan Cattleman’s Assoc., Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan Corn Growers Assoc., farmers Jeff Kala of Onaway, Mich., and Gary Voogt of Marne, Mich. Other assistance came from the Michigan Beef Industry Commission and the Michigan Pork Producers Assoc. (MPPA).

More than 1 million Michiganders work in production agriculture, food processing, and other related businesses. Michigan produces more than 200 agricultural commodities – more than any other state except California.

Hubka said the day was all about making a statement that agriculture is important in Michigan, and feels that happened.
“The people who were there were all pro farm, pro agriculture and pro meat,” he said.