Happy Thanksgiving from my ranch to yours. I hope you’re celebrating this American tradition with loved ones and are taking a moment to give thanks for life’s many blessings.

Thanksgiving was first celebrated as a federal holiday in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” Its roots go back to 1621 and a celebration by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World.

In honor of that first feast, Americans still gather around tables to dine on traditional Thanksgiving fare. This week’s poll on beefmagazine.com asks, “What did you eat at your Thanksgiving meal?”

Vote in the poll here.

Chances are, if you entered our November “Thankful” contest, you’re eager to learn who our winners are. We had 30 entries in our contest, and we’ve randomly selected three winners to take home a western art print, courtesy of BEEF.

View the complete gallery of entries here. 

Congratulations to Bailey Bannister, Daniel Newberry and Sheila Ressler.

Photo submitted by Bailey Bannister

Bannister writes, “I’m thankful for the ability to pursue happiness.”

Photo submitted by Daniel Newberry

Newberry writes, “I am thankful for sprouting seeds and newborn calves; for the miracles some mistake for mundane.”

Photo submitted by Sheila Ressler

Ressler writes, “I’m thankful for my children, bright blue skies and good friends.”

Thanks again to everyone who participated. I hope you are all having a blessed and relaxing Thanksgiving.

By the way, if you’re on social media today, use the hashtag #RanchersGiveThanks and tag @BEEFMagazine in your post. We would love to hear from you!

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Penton Agriculture.

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