Ann Austin, Tribune staff writer

There was no question about &uot;where’s the beef&uot; during Saturday’s Kiss the Cow fund-raiser at Hy-Vee Grocery store in Albert Lea.

The Maine cross-bred bull, brought to the event to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was quiet as Al Weisert planted the first kiss, but tossed his head and stomped his feet when strangers tried to give him a smooch.

The festive atmosphere highlighted the need for money for juvenile diabetes research and Weisert raised the majority of the total $175, which earned him kissing honors.

&uot;It was great,&uot; he said, of kissing the bull. &uot;What a way to kick off Valentine’s Day.&uot; The bull was rounded up by the Cattlemen’s Association and Beef Ambassador Ellen Hansen was there to see all went well.

&uot;He’s probably (been kissed) by us,&uot; she said.

Other &uot;kissers&uot; at the event included Nat Roers and John Madura of KAAL-TV, who had a bet about who could kiss the bull the longest. In the end, neither won because the bovine became tired of the attention.

(Contact Ann Austin at ann.austin@albertleatribune.com or 379-3435.)