Meatless Monday at UNL? Farm Kids Have a Beef With Proposal

Farm kids say they've got a beef with a campaign promoting a vegetarian diet. Student government at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently debated “Meatless Monday"-- a campaign that encourages people not to eat meat one day a week. Leaders in the college chapter of Farm Bureau fought back. They say livestock is a huge driver for the state, and argue that agriculture is a big focus for the university.

Student Senator Spencer Hartman, former state president of FFA said, "As a land grant institution, in the number one beef producing state in the nation, attended by students whose heritage and livelihoods are depending on livestock production, this is something that we cannot stand for."

More than 100 students spoke on behalf of agriculture, and their side won.

Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson highlighted it in his annual address this week in Kearney.

Nelson said, "What it really demonstrates is young people today understand the importance of advocating for agriculture, understand importance of what we do on farms and ranches, and know that's extremely important to our future and has a direct impact on our policy work as well."

The effort was proposed by the Environmental Sustainability Committee, whose students said they wanted to make the case that meat production contributes to environmental problems. They were seeking $250 in student funds to put up information on tables in dining areas on one Monday in the spring of 2015.