The Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation mailed the first shipment of beef sticks for Iowa soldiers in Iraq today at the Ames Post Office. Spokesperson Mick Kreidler says they sent off 48 boxes of the one-ounce sticks. She says the boxes had more than 12-thousand beef sticks in them. She says the “Beef’n Up the Troops” campaign was started by the I-C-F as a promotion for its product, and turned into a statewide effort to help Iowa’s service men and women. The sticks will give the troops something to munch on, and a message from home. She says the message printed on the sticks says, “Iowa Cattlemen and friends take great pride in supporting members of the Iowa armed forces units serving overseas. This gift is a token of our respect and appreciation for defending America’s freedom.” Kreidler says donations helped pay for this shipment, and they hope to be able to send others. She says they’ve raised 30-thousand dollars for this shipment to Iraq, and as more funds come in, they’ll send additional shipments to Afghanistan and Kosovo. Kreidler says 100 percent of the money raised will be used for the purchase, processing and shipment of beef sticks to Iowa troops. Donations fore the effort may be sent to: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, P-O Box 1490, Ames, Iowa 50014. Contributions may also be dropped off at any Farm Bureau county office.
