WHEREAS:  Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry and contributes over $19 billion to our state’s economy each year;

WHEREAS:  Arkansas has cattle production in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties;

WHEREAS:  Arkansas has 866,000 head of beef cows and 1,630,000 head of cattle and calves;

WHEREAS:  Arkansas has 23,036 farms with beef cows and 25,372 farms with cattle and calves;

WHEREAS:  Arkansas ranks 11th in the nation in beef cow inventory and 17th in the nation in cattle and calves inventory;

WHEREAS:  Cattle and calves consistently rank among Arkansas’ top eight agricultural commodities in cash receipts, valued at more than $524 million;

WHEREAS:  Arkansas exports beef and beef products totaling more than $76 million dollars to trading partners around the world; and

WHEREAS: Beef is a good source of high-quality protein and other essential nutrients including iron and zinc.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as

“ARKANSAS BEEF MONTH”

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 27th day of April, in the year of our Lord 2023.