Local Beef Community Raises Over $160,000 for SP4K Beef Program

The Amarillo area beef and dairy communities presented a check for $163,600 to the Snack Pak 4 Kids Program (SP4K). The money will provide 218,000 beef sticks to hungry students through the Snack Pak weekend hunger program. The check was presented at the first Beef 4 Kids Golf Classic (B4K), an event coordinated and led by TCFA.

“When agriculture sees a need, they go and find a way to fill it,” said Dyron Howell, founder of SP4K. “There is so much negative talk about agriculture, especially about the beef and dairy industries, but what isn’t talked about enough is the commitment these industries have to serving their communities.”

Howell said that, because the beef community saw a need and decided to address it, at-risk kids in the Texas Panhandle will now have access to 68 grams of beef and dairy protein each weekend.

“This is protein these children would not have access to otherwise,” Howell said.

The SP4K Beef Stik Program launched in October 2017 during the TCFA Convention. The program was designed to provide more protein to kids in need and allows consumers to purchase Snack Pak Beef Stiks online or in convenience stores with every purchased stick providing an additional stick to a child in need.

The BOGO program combined with the money raised through the B4K tournament will provide two beef sticks for every kid at no additional cost.

“This was our goal and vision when we started this project four years ago, but now this is a reality,” Howell said. “When we first started, kids would get about 10-12 grams of protein in their bags each weekend, which is woefully inadequate. Today, kids are getting 68 grams of protein in their bags.”

Beef provides ten essential nutrients and vitamins, including protein, zinc and iron — three key nutrients that are essential for proper growth and development of children. The SP4K Beef Stik is made of 100% chuck roast and brisket, making it the most premium beef stick on the market.
    
How you can contribute:

1. Buy SP4K Beef Stiks at www.sp4k.org/beef-stik. Every stick you purchase provides an additional stick for a child in need.
2. Share the Beef Stik info on your social media channels.
3. Donate beef to the program.
4. Sponsor your community or a local child.
5. Give SP4K Beef Stiks at your company meetings, as gifts, etc.

TCFA would like to congratulate XIT Feeders on winning the tournament with a score of 54. A big thanks to all of the sponsors and golfers who made this event possible. Major sponsoring organizations include Cactus Feeders, Cargill, Nutra Blend, Caviness Beef Packers, Champion Feeders, Hi-Pro Feeds, Jax Transportation, Micro Technologies, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Tyson Foods, Baptist Community Services, Family Medical Center, Friona Industries and Kemin Industries. 

​See coverage of the event from the Amarillo Globe News, Beef Magazine and KAMR.