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This week the volunteers in the “Cows, Cows, Cows” program were back at it, as they have been for six years now-- processing beef into food shelf inventory and setting aside the prime cuts for use in fundraisers for charitable programs.

The “Cows, Cows Cows” effort may or may not have the Community Market site for doing this work next year, but that didn’t deter the work crew from getting the processing done this year that needs to be done.

Several years ago market owner Peter Nelson, who was then Lindstrom’s mayor, teamed up with David Freemore to undertake an ambitious program. It involves a local beef cattle rancher raising up beef cows, processing the meat at the Lindstrom market and then stocking food shelves with the hamburger and roasts from McGregor, south to the metro area.

Nelson said this year the grand total of ground beef that’s gone to food shelves is 8.25 tons. Another couple ton will be added after this week’s labors. (3,600 pounds actually) “That’s a lot of protein,” Nelson joked.

Nelson said the rib eye and tenderloins are raffled off at the annual program celebration dinner and the funds raised go into buying grain for the beef calves. The pasture is provided by Jeff Stewart of rural Stacy.

Roasts go to Minnesota Teen Challenge.

Freemore reported there were 11 beef cows processed this year.

The first year it was eight, then nine “...so we’ve grown, but manageably,” he added.

Freemore said it is interesting getting to know the many volunteers who contribute two days of their time to do the meat processing. There’s also professional butchers on-hand to oversee the activity in the USDA-licensed facility.

Freemore noted how the volunteers he’s met working in the de-boning, butchering, grinding and packaging stations say they probably wouldn’t go on a mission trip, but this program appeals to them and their desires to help the needy. Many of the volunteers hail from the Moundsview-Circle Pines-Fridley area where church involvement is very strong in “Cows, Cows, Cows.”

To donate to this program or learn more contact Freemore at 763-792-0724.

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