By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clay County Farm Bureau (CFB) has steadily made donations of ground beef to local hunger relief groups and charitable organizations for distribution to residents in need.
But this isn’t just any ground beef, according to Clay CFB Vice President Tommy Henderson. The meat comes from the Wellborn 2R Ranch, right down the road from the county food bank in Henriettia.
“As a board, we felt like instead of giving cash or other items, since all of us are cattle ranchers, we’d rather give beef, especially beef raised here at home,” Henderson said. “The animals are born and raised in Clay County, then sent to Gage, Okla. to be fed out and harvested. Then, the meat is sent back here for processing and distribution. It’s a win-win for everybody to be able to donate Clay County beef to those who need a little extra help right now.”
Wellborn 2R Ranch made the ground beef available to Clay CFB at a considerable discount. With the help of matching funds from Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Feeding Texas and Feeding the Need contribution co-op programs, Clay CFB has been able to increase its purchasing power and donate even more.
“We’ve been really proud of our efforts as a county Farm Bureau and to use those state matching programs to really harness our giving power and be able to give significantly to the food bank. We couldn’t have done it without Wellborn 2R cattle making that beef available to us at a discount, as well,” Henderson said. “The first few donations went to the Clay County Food Bank. They totaled around 500 pounds, and the last 400 pounds we donated went to the Henrietta and Petrolia senior citizens’ associations for distribution to senior citizens in our county. Each organization has told us that protein, especially beef protein, is hard to come by in their line of work. So, they were very thankful for that help.”
Clay County FFA students were also on hand to help deliver the meat to the senior citizens’ organizations.
“Clay County has turned out a lot of great students, and they just keep getting better all the time,” Henderson said. “Both of the senior citizens groups talked to the FFA kids and explained what that spirit of giving will help them do and how the donations will be used. It wasn’t just a blessing to the recipients. It was a blessing to the kids, as well, because they’ll understand going forward how one small act of kindness can make a big difference, and hopefully they’ll always remember that.”
Helping neighbors is just what farmers and ranchers and Farm Bureau members do, Henderson added.
“We’re grateful to those who came before us and molded Clay County into what it is today. We have a great ancestry, and it’s our turn to help those people who may need it now,” he said. “The people of Clay County are what makes this a great place to live, and we all may need a little help now and then. It’s good to go back and help others when you’re able.”