Beef for baby

The last baby of 2001 will soon be bringing home the bacon, or at least a roast or two.

The Western Nevada Cattlewomen will give the parents of the last baby born this year in Carson-Tahoe Hospital a $50 gift certificate to Butler Meats.

"It's a really great thing for a new mother to have protein for her baby if she's nursing and for herself to recover quickly and heal well," explained Liz Carrasco, president of the organization and registered nurse. "All meat products are great for a new mom."

The Cattlewomen's group decided about four years ago to reward the last baby born each year as opposed to the traditionally celebrated first baby of the year.

"We honor the last because everybody else honors the first," Carrasco said.

Hospital officials will let members of the organization know which baby was delivered closest to Jan. 1.

Since the focus of the group is to promote the beef industry, the members settled on a gift of meat.

Growing up on a ranch, Carrasco has always been associated with the organization but joined six years ago to help promote beef.

"I think it gets a bad rap sometimes and labeled as high fat and high cholesterol," she said. "That's overplayed in many aspects. As an RN, I know the nutritional value of protein."

In addition to protein, beef also provides zinc to improve memory and iron to help the mother recover more rapidly.

The organization also awards scholarships annually to area high school students who plan to pursue an education in an agricultural field. For information about the Western Nevada Cattlewomen, call 265-2499 or 465-9793.