Beef Ambassador

Howdy Folks,

As I sit here just crossing the half way mark of my last spring break of high school, I am more thrilled than ever to be serving you as a 2010 National Beef Ambassador. This years ambassador team is one for the record books. All five of us have so much passion and love for this amazing industry. I look at the members of my team, and realize that America’s beef producers couldn’t have a more hard-working and passionate group of young people working tirelessly for them each and everyday.

One person who is showing her true passion and love for the industry is my super energetic team mate, Malorie Bankhead. She has been so full of unique and exciting opportunities over the course of the last few months, and I continue to be impressed by her enthusiasm everyday. She has been working feverishly to create an online beef industry photo contest which will tie in to the National Beef Ambassador’s Facebook page. Malorie is implementing this contest to help promote National Agriculture Day on Saturday March 20, which is when the contest will be launched, and will end to promote Earth Day on April 22.

Malorie’s goal, much like the goals of the ambassador team, is to have the contest “promote the cattle industry’s involvement in preserving and caring for the environment.” The title of the contest is “Farmers and Ranchers Care,” and I believe that it’s a fitting title to appeal to the American consumer. America’s farmers and ranchers are working each and everyday to not only make this industry better from a meat quality standpoint, but also from an integrity and care standpoint for the everyday consumer. Malorie’s contest, which has been approved by the CBB (Cattlemen’s Beef Coard) and the USDA, will include a specific list of real and guidelines and a press release.

I am so thrilled to be a part of a team which has members that are so enthusiastic and passionate for the industry that I love so much. I don’t want to give out all of Malorie’s secrets, so be sure to check out her blog, the National Beef Ambassador’s Facebook page, and the “beefambassador” Twitter account for more information coming very soon. This contest is a fun and exciting way for the young, old, and everyone in the middle to get involved and show their love for the outstanding way of life that we all love.

Finally, I’d like to mention a topic that I am personally proud of. Growing up here in southwest Oklahoma on a small Hereford farm, I have always had a dream of being featured in the Hereford World magazine. I, along with my parents, have been getting this magazine (every issue) since I was a small child. Every time the book comes out, my mom and I normally argue about who will get to read it first. Anyway, an editor of the magazine recently contacted me and asked if I would be interested in allowing them to write a piece over me in an upcoming issue. As expected, I was thrilled with the opportunity and immediately said “YES!” They sent me a variety of questions covering myself, the beef industry, and the National Beef Ambassador Program. I gladly answered the questions, and sent them a wide variety of photos of myself on the farm, at school, working with the cattle, and also promoting beef and agriculture with my good friends on the ambassador team. I will keep everyone updated as to when that piece may come out, but if you get the magazine, check it out!

All of these steps and activities give me pride in what our ambassador team is doing on a daily basis to keep this industry the very best. Even though we are all busy studying for finals, memorizing speeches, going to judging contest, or preparing to graduate high school, we each hold a unique perspective on the industry. More importantly, we also have an inborn common love of what we do.

Until next time, Jackson