Murfreesboro, TN - At the Tennessee Junior Beef Expo in Murfreesboro on July 11-12, the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association (TCA) with help from industry partners, purchased the winning show steers at a premium price. In the following days, the cattle were harvested for beef at Blankenship Farms Meat Processing in Calhoun, Tenn. and Edgefield Prime Meat Company in Dunlap, Tenn. The meat will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee later this month. This will equate to approximately 2,500 pounds of beef for the local community.

"The Second Harvest Initiative creates a win-win opportunity for TCA," said Melinda Perkins, Director of Youth Programs and Outreach for TCA. "We are able to reward the youth exhibitors for their hard work while serving a larger purpose and supplying a nutrient-rich product to those in need."

For the first time in the seven year history of the program, TCA was able to coordinate the purchase of five steers from State Beef Expo. TCA engaged several industry partners to raise $15,500 to buy these steers.

Those partners included:

$5,000 Farm Credit Mid America

(Grand Champion: Chelsey Harvey, Claiborne Co.)

$4,000 H&R Agripower

(Reserve Champion: Eli Mundy, Claiborne Co.)

$3,500 TriGreen Equipment, Corteva Agriscience, & Anonymous Donor (Third Overall: Mary Carter Shirley, Putnam Co.)

$3,000 My Team Cattle & Crop Insurance, United Livestock Commodities, & TCA (Fifth Overall: Karley Warner, Warren Co.)

$3,000 Swallows Insurance & TCA

(Sixth Overall: Parker Saum, McNairy Co.)

The opportunity to be involved with the Second Harvest Initiative made Eli Mundy's success at this year's Tennessee Junior Beef Expo even more extraordinary. "Winning Reserve Champion market steer at the 2019 Tennessee Junior Beef Expo was special to me. All the long days and nights spent in the barn finally paid off for my family and I," said Mundy. "But, what made this win extra special to me was getting the opportunity to donate my steer to the Second Harvest Food Bank."

TCA also awarded approximately $18,000 in premiums for class and showmanship winners, as well as for the skill-a-thon competitors. The East Tenn. Livestock Center sponsored premiums for the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Bred by Exhibitor awards, and the Dairy Steer awards.

In total, these sponsors and TCA gave approximately $34,000 in awards. "We are always looking for ways to support our 4-H and FFA youth and their efforts to show cattle," said Perkins. "If your company would like to be involved, please get in touch with a TCA representative."