Valleyford, Wash., rancher Randy Emtman, center, helps load 300 pounds of ground beef donated by Spokane County Cattlemen to the Spokane Veterans Home Aug. 20.

SPOKANE — Spokane County ranchers recently thanked area veterans for their service with a donation of 300 pounds of ground beef.

Spokane County Cattlemen make a regular donation to the Spokane Veterans Home every few months, longtime president Jim Wentland said.

“When they need it,” Wentland said. “It’s about every three to four months. It’s just a great organization to support. They put their lives on the line for us over the years, and the least we can do is help keep them alive.”

The veterans home serves 100 residents, according to its website. The beef would be used for a tailgate party Aug. 22, and also is used for barbecues and meat loaf.

The cattlemen bought the beef from Emtman Bros. Farms in Valleyford, Wash., a member of the county organization, and then donated it to the veterans home.

There are about 45 members of the county group of cow-calf operators, Wentland said.

“We have members that eat beef and then we have members that raise beef,” he said.

Members are lined up to provide the donated beef, which is processed at the LimitBid Packing facility in Odessa, Wash.

The group paid $7 per pound for the beef, Wentland said.

“It keeps going up because everything else is going up,” he said. “We can’t expect these guys to sell it and come out in a hole.”

The county cattlemen raise funds for donations and youth activities at their annual banquet in November, Wentland said.

“It’s all about helping the youth and helping the community,” Wentland said.

Farmers and military

Ranchers Randy Emtman and Lisa Emtman, married in 1985, raised the beef donated through the Spokane County Cattlemen.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” Randy Emtman said.

Randy is a fourth-generation rancher, their son is fifth-generation and the sixth generation is “coming up on the farm,” Lisa said, holding her hand close to the ground to imply a young child’s height.

At least three generations of their family have served in the military, he said, including Randy and Lisa’s fathers; Randy’s father’s uncles and one of their sons.

“We just think it’s very important to support our country and support our veterans,” he said.

“The reason we’re a free country is because of our veterans,” Lisa Emtman said. “We owe them our freedom.”

“Farming and military — kind of the basis of the United States,” Randy said.

“Backbone of our country,” Lisa Emtman said.

Vets on the Farm

Vets on the Farm, the 3-acre farm through the Spokane Conservation District, also donated 65 pounds of cucumbers and cabbage.

Vets on the Farm makes donations to the veterans home twice a year, farm manager Grant Weber said.

“It’s important to us to do that, because of all that they gave, so we can give just a little bit back,” he said.

“It feels good to give back,” coordinator Ginny Weber said. “We’re all veterans who work at the farm. It feels good, when we have extra, to bring it here and for them to have good, healthy vegetables and see the smiles on their faces. And when we walk in the door, to be able to say, ‘Thank you for your service.’”

Vets on the Farm

https://spokanecd.org/pages/vets-on-the-farm

Spokane County Cattlemen

https://www.facebook.com/spokanecattlemen/

Spokane Veterans Home

https://www.dva.wa.gov/veterans-service-members-and-their-families/veterans-homes/spokane-veterans-home