Sunday, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that he wishes to congratulate Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, Coach Tony Bennett, the Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball team and their alumni on a hard-fought win over Auburn University in the NCAA Final Four.
While disappointed in the final result of the game, Pate congratulates the Auburn University team on a great season, that included wins over New Mexico State, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. Coach Bruce Pearl’s basketball team has been a source of pride and inspiration to the state Alabama.
Commissioner Pate said that he is confident that Dr. Bronaugh will enjoy the delicious Alabama farm-raised Harvest Select catfish, that she won as a result of their friendly wager on the game.
“Of course, as an Auburn fan, I’d love to be enjoying a win and a delicious Virginia raised Smithfield country ham, but I wish the Cavaliers, the best of luck in Monday’s game!” Pate said.
Alabama ranks second in the nation for Catfish production and the catfish industry has a $158.2 million economic impact on the state annually.
Pate said that Catfish also serves as a great source of protein and contains all essential amino acids that your body can not make on its own. It is very beneficial to your overall health because it contains magnesium, phosphorus, B-complex vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Pate urged consumer to be sure to look for U.S. farm-raised catfish in the grocery store.
Commissioner Pate will be sending Commissioner Bronaugh a case of Alabama farm-raised catfish fillets.
Agriculture, forestry and related industries fields contribute over $70 billion to our state’s economy annually while providing almost 600,000 jobs! Auburn University is Alabama’s premier land-grant university.
Auburn excels in a number of sports, particularly equestrian events; but this year’s Auburn’s mens basketball team is the most accomplished in the history of the school. They won the SEC tournaments securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournaments and a #5 seed; then proceeded to rack off a number of impressive wins, including over #1 seed North Carolina. Auburn defeated Kentucky to go to the Final four and had a two point lead over Virginia with one second left to play. With just six tenths of a second left to play officials ruled that Auburn fouled the Virginia player in the act of shooting so Virginia was awarded three free throws. The University of Virginia player made his free throws and won the game.
Virginia will play Texas Tech tonight in the national championship game.
