CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Labor Day Cookouts Vary According to Recession

Labor Day Cookouts Vary According to Recession

By Wilton Johnson

BBQ get togethers were hard to find Monday in Gregg County. Many people gave us many reasons why.

I figured if anyone was "q-ing it up", it'd be here. Wrong. Only some light laborers, not a single smoker to be found.

"No last night I did, but not tonight. People were mainly celebrating last night," said Michelle Bozeman.

Butchers at Skinners say don't let the empty aisles fool you.

"We're stayin' pretty busy right now. Selling lots of T-bones, sirloin, hamburger meat, sausage and stuff like that," said Waylon Franks.

The silver lining to this recession, grilling-wise, is beef prices are still down due to the market flood of dairy cattle this spring. Cattle Network reports prices are $10 dollars below last year and $5 dollars below the previous 5-year average.

"3/4 of the country lives from grocery store," said David Grewing.

He and these Liberty City folks aren't part of that 75-percent. Three big catches was a sign to them.

"Labor Day weekend coming up and the good lord blessin' us all with something to eat," said Robert Manning.

They aren't surprised there aren't many others out today.

"Times are tough and just ain't got alot of money to go buy brisket and BBQ," Manning continued.

He and Grewing suggest people get out of the grocery store and into Mother Nature.

"So many people don't know they can go down to the local river and feed family out of what they get," Grewing said.

No matter how you spent this Labor Day, let's all remember those who spent it laboring.

"I like working. Somebody's got to work so it's got to be me, I guess," said James Flowers as he left for his security job.