Weld County is designating March 20 as "Meat-In" Day in response to Gov. Polis' support for a plant-based holiday.

The controversy began last week, when Polis issued a proclamation declaring March 20 as "MeatOut" Day in order to promote a day of vegetarian eating.

According to VegNews, the proclamation reads:

Removing animal products from our diets reduces the risk of various ailments, including heart disease, high-blood pressure, stroke, various cancers, and diabetes and a plant-based diet helps protect the environment by reducing our carbon footprint, preserving forests, grasslands, and wildlife habitats, and reduces pollution of waterways...therefore, I, Jared Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado, do proclaim March 20, 2021 as MeatOut Day.

The announcement did not sit well with Weld County, which brings in $2 billion annually through its agricultural industry.

Get our free mobile app

"When Governor Polis declared March 20 as MeatOUT day, it was a slap in the face to the thousands of ranching and farm families across this state," Commissioner Chair Steve Moreno said in a statement. "It was yet another hit against rural Colorado."

Commissioner Mike Freeman took particular issue with Polis' phrasing in the proclamation, stating that simply promoting a plant-based diet is different than associating eating meat with poor health.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners will officially proclaim March 20 as "Weld County Ranching, Livestock, and Meat-In" Day at 9 a.m. on Wednesday (March 3) at the Weld County Administration Building.

The board is encouraging families in the agricultural industry to attend, promising that "it will call out dangerous actions by elected officials that risk the economic health, safety, and welfare of the people who call Colorado home."

However, Polis appears to be unfazed by the criticism. In a COVID-19 update published by Fox31, he noted his love of brisket and openness to a Colorado beef appreciation day, stating: "We do hundreds of these proclamations."

Top 10 Greeley Employers

 

More From 99.9 The Point