OKEECHOBEE — During the May Okeechobee Junior Cattlemen’s Association meeting (OJCA), members were trying to decide what they could do to give back to our community. They wanted to help an organization along with promoting beef.

This group of amazing young leaders decided they wanted to help Real Life children's Ranch  in Okeechobee. When Junior Cattlemen eached out to one of the homes at the ranch, it was determined their greatest and immediate need was to stock their freezer with beef; they were almost completely out. 

A family in OJCA, Hamilton and Christine Bishop, generously donated a steer to the club to be used for this community service project with the members agreeing to pay for the processing.

Several of the Junior Cattlemen were able to take a tour of the home, unload the truck, fill the freezers and play in the yard with the young kids.

The Okeechobee Junior Cattlemen members plan to provide a cattle demonstration for the children at Real Life Children’s Ranch in the fall.

This is one of the many activities that the Junior Cattlemen's Association members participate in throughout the year. So next time you buy a hamburger from them at the rodeo, know it is going towards an amazing cause. The group is thankful for their adult leaders Rick and Annette Hartman who work tirelessly throughout the year to organize activities and mentor these kids.