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STATE BEEF COUNCILS
Building beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective state/national checkoff partnership.
Beef Information Reaches Idaho’s Ninja Warrior Hundreds of Florida Dietitians Powered by Beef
A beef checkoffsponsored nutrition speaker, along with personal contact with dietitians and other nutrition professionals by the Florida Beef Council (FBC), helped boost beef’s visibility to an important audience at the Florida Food and Nutrition Symposium recently. Held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in July, the conference hosted nearly 600 nutrition and dietetics professionals for four days. The FBC presented Dr. Martha Belury as a speaker at the event. Her presentation on Building Better Muscles with Flavanoids allowed the FBC to hand out educational materials on including beef in a healthy diet to about 200 people. Dr. Belury’s presentation
– which was ranked as one of the top presentations at the event by conferencegoers – was made possible through the checkoff-funded Nutrition Seminar Series, which is managed by NCBA as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The FBC has provided speakers in the past, and they have been well-received by this audience. “It’s crucial FBC takes these opportunities to visit with nutritionists and dietitians because they are the people consumers turn to when considering their diets and nutritional needs,” according to Allyson Trimble, FBC director of marketing and promotion. “Through these and other efforts we can give them a better understanding of beef and help them feel more secure in promoting and suggesting beef to their clients.”
Idaho’s own Lance Pekus, a 30-year-old cattle rancher who lives in Salmon, Idaho, is making a name for himself while making the state and his industry proud through his participation in the American Ninja Warrior competition, which airs on NBC. Pekus has been in the competition for six years – and been partially sponsored by the Idaho Beef Council for the last year and a half. In fact, his Twitter bio says he is “powered by beef.” “I feel like there’s a lot of negative connotation to beef and the beef industry,” Pekus told The Idaho Statesman. “I work in the beef industry. Some of my
biggest supporters and sponsors are the beef community, the Idaho Beef Council.” The television competition features competitors who tackle a series of tough obstacles that require strength, agility, balance and timing. Pekus has never had a personal trainer or coach to prepare him for the competition, but he works on a course that he created in a calving shed on his family’s ranch, and uses many ranch features (such as hay bales) as training tools. Stage 2 of the finals of the competition were aired Sept. 18, and Lance, who had become a fan favorite, was done in by the difficult “Wingnut Alley” obstacle – along with 22 other American Ninja Warrior finalists.
Beef Day at New York State Fair Features Burgers, Fun and Charity Two had an opportunity to buy swings at burger a car named “hunger.” All proceeds cook-offs, a from the event went to the Food Bank popular Hot of Central New York for the purchase of Beef Sundae about 100 pounds of lean ground beef. promotion and a healthy dose of “Beef is an important part of a generosity to those in need highlighted healthy diet,” said Katherine Brosnan, the New York beef industry’s Beef Day NYBC director of industry relations and at the New York State Fair August 29. consumer promotions. “Unfortunately, Coordinated by the New York Beef high quality, complete proteins like beef Council (NYBC), the day’s events were can often be hard to find for those most made possible by a grant funding from in need. Beef Days serves as an important the South Dakota Beef Council. opportunity to not only educate about New York Commissioner of beef and the beef industry, but to give Agriculture Richard Ball was on hand back to the community.” at the festivities to recognize the success and importance of the New York beef industry. Burger cookoffs featuring media personalities and social influencers, as well as FFA chapters throughout the state, also brought a festive but competitive atmosphere to the event. And the New York State Fair’s famous Hot Beef Sundae was a hit with those seeking a novel but delicious treat during the day. Finally, the NYBC gave back to the community by partnering to donate $1,500 of Hot Beef Sundae sales to the Food Bank of Central New York. The State Fair, New York Beef Producers Association and NYBC also Media teams, including television and radio personalities and partnered to offer a reporters from local newspapers and magazines, and social “Pound Out Hunger” media influencers faced off to create a winning burger during activity at the Beef a burger cook-off at the Beef Day festivities at the New York State Fair. Barn, where fairgoers
Ten new state staff members from seven state beef councils attended an orientation in Denver conducted by the Federation Aug. 30-31 to gain further understanding of assistance and collaboration opportunities with the NCBA checkoff staff. Here, Kylee Whitehill (left) of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council and Lauren Corry of the Ohio Beef Council learn more about the checkoff-funded digital command center in the NCBA offices. Also attending the sessions were Emily Henes and Amber Shoemaker from the Ohio Beef Council; Allyson Trimble from the Florida Beef Council; Jen Lewis and KayDee Gilkey from the Washington State Beef Commission; Bob LeValley from the Oklahoma Beef Council; Rochelle Gilman from the Iowa Beef Industry Council; and Damon McCune from the California Beef Council.