Bring on the beef

Local carnivores won’t be asking “Where’s the beef?” at the Encampment Beef Committee’s annual community picnic.

The picnic this Saturday is free and open to all meat lovers everywhere. Jerry Kraft, one of the organizers and committee members, said the provided beef hamburgers and chili will come from a 4-H steer once owned by Encampment youth Brett Miller.

Kraft said attendees should also bring at least one side dish, such as a vegetable, salad or dessert, and their own place settings. The event also includes an auction, where beef packages from the steer are auctioned off.

“We’ll have hamburgers from the meat, and there will be some left over that we will auction off,” he said. “People can bring salad and anything else they want, and we’ll also have drinks like lemonade provided. They’ve done this event every year for a number of years, 30 at the least, and it was started by Jim York back in the 80s.”

Kraft said the Encampment Beef Committee’s diverse membership also includes people from all over the Platte Valley. In addition to the food and auction, the event will also include dancing and live music.

“We’ll also have Jason Swedlund and his band play for the entertainment,” Kraft said. “The money from the auction will also be used to give scholarships to Encampment graduates.”

The Encampment Beef Committee’s annual community picnic takes place at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Encampment Opera House.