Agriculture is a key piece in the puzzle that is the Louisiana economy, and within that lies Louisiana beef. Cattle raising, and the subindustries built around enabling it, has been a mainstay in the Louisiana culture and economy since the early days of Louisiana colonization. From there, the industry has only grown, and Bossier Parish is no exception. In 2023 alone, beef production was valued at 15.2 million dollars according to the LSU AgCenter’s annual report of Louisiana agriculture. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that to honor this continued contribution, a celebration was devised in the early 1960s with a single goal: drive Louisianians to eat Louisiana beef. Thus came the aptly titled “Louisiana Beef Week.”
Starting in 1962, after being signed into existence by Governor’s Proclamation by Governor Jimmie Davis, Louisiana Beef Week was imagined by the Louisiana cattle sector in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to encourage Louisiana residents to eat Louisiana beef. Likewise on the local level, the Mayors of both Shreveport and Bossier City met with the local organizers of the celebration to show their support for the mission of Beef Week. Local organizers took to radio and newspaper spots, as well as holding press conferences and luncheons, all revolving around encouraging Caddo-Bossier to partake in Louisiana beef. For example, the “Beef Week Queen” of 1962, Rayetta Broussard, as well as her counterpart in the Caddo-Bossier Cattlemen’s Association Jim Burt III, met mayors George Nattin of Bossier City and Clyde E. Fant of Shreveport. The purpose of this meeting, of course, was to promote the local beef industry, as well as the secondary industries that support and benefit from the wider cattle sector. This tradition of meeting with local leaders would continue as the event grew older and larger. For another example, look to the “Kick-Off Luncheon” of 1967, with a guest list sporting names of local business owners, politicians, and members of the local media. According to a column published in the Shreveport Journal on May 2, 1967, the event was hosted by the Sweetheart of the Caddo-Bossier Cattlemen's Association, Shellye Abington, and held at the Piermont Mall. Mayors Nattin and Fant were gifted beef roasts from the Caddo-Bossier Cowbelles (the women’s auxiliary of the Cattlemen's Association). In 1967 alone, there were multiple such luncheons all sporting similar guest lists. While Beef Week has waned in popularity, the wider idea of a beef focused celebration has not lapsed from the public consciousness. In 2023, by Governor’s Proclamation, the month of May was declared Beef Month, and likewise the LSU AgCenter has tried to continue the tradition of encouraging local beef consumption during what is considered Beef Month.
In retrospect, Louisiana Beef Week’s mission to increase Louisiana beef consumption seemingly succeeded. According to numbers from the USDA, there were over 45 million heads of cattle in Louisiana by the mid 1970s. While numbers have since decreased, cattle still play an integral part in Louisiana at large, and more locally here in Bossier Parish.
If you have any photos or other information relating to the history of Bossier City or Bossier Parish, the History Center may be interested in adding the materials to its research collection by donation or by scanning them and returning the originals. Call or visit us to learn more. We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org. We can also be found online at https://www.facebook.com/BPLHistoryCenter/ and http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/
Images:
- Beef Week is Proclaimed by Governor Jimmie Davis (Photo courtesy of The Shreveport Journal, March 15, 1962)
- Mayors of Shreveport and Bossier City with local Cattlemen (Photo courtesy of The Shreveport Journal, Jack Barham, March 22, 1962)
- 1967 Photo from the Beef Week Kickoff Luncheon - Mayor Fant Issuing proclamation of "Beef Week" (Photo from the Beef Week Scrapbook (Page 18) BPL History Center)
- 1967 Photo from the Beef Week Kickoff Luncheon - Special guests at Head Table (Photo from the Beef Week Scrapbook (Page 18) BPL History Center)
- 1967 Photo from the Beef Week Kickoff Luncheon - Mayor Nattin Issuing proclamation of "Beef Week"(Photo from the Beef Week Scrapbook (Page 18) BPL History Center)
- 1967 Photo from the Beef Week Kickoff Luncheon - Shelly presenting Mayor Fant & Nattin, each, a roast at the luncheon.(Photo from the Beef Week Scrapbook (Page 18) BPL History Center)
- 1967 Photo from the Beef Week Kickoff Luncheon - Lanny Thomas, Shreveport Times, Jack Dillard, Farm Dir., KWKH Radio, Jack Copeland, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce (Photo from the Beef Week Scrapbook (Page 18) BPL History Center)
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