Hosted by the North Dakota Beef Commission, North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and the North Dakota CattleWomen, the event provided free beef meals to all active duty service members, veterans and their families. The meal was served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the State Fair Center’s Festival Tent and drew hundreds of attendees in uniform and civilian clothing alike.

While the fairgrounds bustled with the usual sights and sounds of summer fun, the aroma of grilled beef cut through the air as volunteers dished up hearty servings with a handshake and a smile. It’s a scene that’s become a cherished tradition, bringing together service members and the ranching families who proudly support them.

“North Dakota’s cattle ranchers are proud to host the Beef Industry Military Appreciation Day each year,” said NDSA President Randy Schmitt, a Rugby cow-calf producer. “It’s a chance to say thanks to our nation’s heroes and to give them a great beef-eating experience so they can advocate for our product wherever their travels take them.”

The organizations behind the effort emphasized the lunch is more than just nourishment. It’s a show of appreciation from North Dakota’s cattle industry, whose values of hard work, dedication and service to community align with those of the military.

Joe Smothers and his wife, Shawna Smothers, enjoy the free lunch provided to military members and their families at the North Dakota State Fair on Tuesday. Joe Smothers served 34 years in the military, eight with the Air Force and 26 with the Army National Guard.

This year’s Military Appreciation Day also featured free gate admission for all military personnel and their dependents, courtesy of the North Dakota State Fair. Identification was required at the gate to take part in the offer.

A special opening flag-raising ceremony took place in the morning at the flagpole near the main gate. Throughout the day, fairgoers also could stop by the Military Day booth near the Commercial Building II to find resources and information from local and national military support organizations.

Military Appreciation Day has become a cornerstone of the State Fair, and each year, the lunch grows in scale and meaning. It not only highlights North Dakota’s commitment to its military families, but also the tight-knit community that binds agriculture and service.

The fair continues through Saturday.