Beef Ambassador

Welcome Back!!!

I am pleased to announce to  all of you fellow followers of the Beef Ambassador blog, that I Arika Snyder just finished signing up for the Broiler Maker 15K Race for July 8^th in Upstate New York!! This will be my first big race to be participating, other than my high school track and field and boy, I’m sure anxious and excited all at the same time! Did you know that just by putting in small workouts in your daily schedule can really make a difference over a long run, haha I made a pun.  Being a college student and all, I’ve had my fair share moments of being lethargic and content with my daily late night runs to the student cafeteria for occasional fries and maybe adding in that famous Ben and Jerry’s ice cream every weekend night. It wasn’t until this past summer I realized that I had started to become what I ate. Not only was I eating unhealthy foods for days on end during my freshman year, but also didn’t have sports in college that interested me in getting involved which resulted in me receiving no physical activity.

Now, a sophomore in college I currently rent an apartment off campus and have the option of cooking my OWN food with healthier choices. Now, I bet you’re guessing I’ve eliminated meat from my diet completely in order to lose close to ten pounds since last year? You’re mistaken! I’ve actually been consuming MORE beef than ever before with delicious side dishes. Beef has been the key all along to a healthy diet and I never knew. Over the last several decades, the media has tried to state that eating red meat can cause disease as well as high cholesterol and possible heart attack and/or stroke.  These beliefs are only myths, in reality beef is especially packed full of iron, zinc and protein. All nutrients that I’m going to need for a successful race this summer, iron and protein are even more important for when you’re doing physical activity because protein is used for building strength, while iron is used for the production of red blood cells so I can keep going longer with quick short breaths. I believe with the right amount of exercise and a daily serving of beef, you can say goodbye to all those unnecessary lbs you been working so hard to get rid of all year. Try a marathon or even a short jog to start off with and then improve each and every day! Not only will you look good, you’ll feel good as well.  You don’t need to fall for the tv commercial ads on how their product will make you lose weight. Join Team BEEF and make a change today!! Be sure to keep a look out for many updates throughout the year about my progress with preparing for the BIG day!!

With a Cattle Calling,

Hello there!

February has once again blessed us with its presents and man can I feel the love in the air. Although Valentine’s Day is the scared holiday where you go all out and express your love to your boyfriend/girlfriend or wife/husband, you can still share your love with yourself. Did you know that February is National Heart Healthy Month?!??! Why not take care of you center for love (aka, your heart) by trying out our new campaign BOLD, Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet.  Studies conducted at my very own Penn State University have shown that lean beef helps provide your body with essential nutrients while limiting the amount of cholesterol you intake. The study used 42 subjects who all had bad cholesterol. Out of the 42 subjects, 36 participants actually finished the study and maintained their weight within almost 5 lbs. Each subject was given the diet for four of the five weeks during the study.  One week out of the study, the participants were able to eat as they wished. On average these participants saw a decrease in both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol while on the BOLD diet.

Even if you don’t have a Valentine this Valentine’s Day you can still spread the love with BEEF! Your hearts will thank you and you’ll enjoy a fabulous meal. If you are a last minute planner like some are when it comes to remembering that special day, why not stop by the florist and schedule dinner and a movie? That way you woo him/her with the romantic gesture of flowers, treat them to a delicious steak that shows you care not only for the person they are but also their heart, and you get to digest that tasty steak all throughout that two hour movie. Let’s face it, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, money can be tight, but if you follow my last minute Valentine’s Day plan you’ll be sure to show a eventful night on a small budget. I know if I’m full after my dinner, I know that movie part of the date won’t take all my money. Sorry popcorn and soda, I’ve had my fill on BEEF tonight! Remember be BOLD and show the one you love how you really feel!

With a Cattle Calling,

Arika Snyder

Howdy Ya’ll

It sure is nice to once again share with you the beloved beef story. As we all know, this weekend is the one weekend in which almost the entire nation prays for one thing on a Sunday. Sadly, most aren’t praying on this coming Sunday for farmers and ranchers to have good weather in which they can tend to their cattle herds or praying to a faith, it’s more likely on this particular Sunday to be praying for either the Giants or the Patriots to win the all mighty SUPER BOWL!!

I can admit that I may not be the most avid watcher of football, but when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around each February I always try to catch the nearest pregame party and enjoy the many dishes of food and fellowship with friends and family.  Being able to have a gathering with friends and family by watching a football game is one way in which you can dazzle them with your cooking abilities. I am not always the greatest cook in the world, and most of the time I screw up a dish here and there, but one dish that no one can EVER mess up is a nice piece of juicy, delicious, and even mouth watering steak or other cut of BEEF!

Yesterday, as I was checking out of the Nashville Hotel from the Cattle Industry Convention I noticed the Wall Street Journal had printed an article about Super Bowl Sunday and the predicted food choices people would consume over this weekend. Although that article stated that over 100 million lbs of chicken wings will be consumed this Super Bowl Sunday, I believe that the chicken wing won’t be winning any bowl game when it comes to a juicy steak. I mean let’s get real here, how much meat is actually present there in that chicken wing? Although it does seem tasty and oh so flavorful, you must add hot sauce, barbeque sauce and maybe other ingredients that can add to the sodium intake as well as increasing your calorie count.  Let me ask you this single question, when you go out to celebrate a special occasion, what do you primarily choose to enjoy your special night? STEAK of Course! Who has ever heard of a celebratory chicken meal and felt like a winner or the honored guest? Since its Super Bowl weekend why not celebrate like a CHAMPION regardless of the score?!

A fast and easy meal to prepare for a party with many guests is going out to the grocery store and purchasing ground beef and making tacos for all your guests to enjoy. It tastes great, it’s flavorful and your guests will have consumed zinc, iron, and protein which are all essential nutrients that your bodies will need to yell and scream loud at your TV to try to change the outcome of a play/call. Trust me I know, you’ll run out of energy probably after the first quarter because the ref called something dumb.  If you have more time on your hands you might care for a nice juicy T-bone steak or possibly going out to your local sports grill and ordering that sirloin steak.

If you do get a chance to look up the article from the Wall Street Journal that was published on Thursday February 2, you’ll also see that the title of the article states: “ Carrots Vie for a Spot on Game Day”. Although this source states that carrots are a healthier choice for this Super Bowl weekend, please keep in mind that BEEF is one of those healthy choices.  Who really gets excited about eating carrots? Sorry Wall Street, but this Beef Ambassador has a different game plan! EAT BEEF, it’s your best DEFENSE!  I hope everyone enjoys their Super Bowl weekend and I’ll be back next week for another exciting blog. Until then I’ll keep riding for the brand!

With a Cattle Calling,

Arika

Hello All!

I’m back once again to discuss a brand new topic thats waiting for feedback! Since I was a little kid I’ve had the occasional fast food cheeseburger from the highly popular franchise McDonalds. I’ve wondered as well as many others probably of how they get a burger to taste so good. Many people will tell you the myths of where McDonalds’ burgers come from, but in reality most don’t understand is that our very own American farmers and ranchers work each and everyday to ensure that there is still supply for the well known burger joint.

If you haven’t seen McDonalds newest commericial ads yet, I suggest you click this link and check it out for yourself. I can personally tell you that this is one of the best ads I have seen from McDonalds in a long time and it really tells the story of why their product is so good.  You’ll noticed its not like other ads that McDonalds has produced before in the past, like “Come try our delicious burger, mouth watering juicy flavor… ” Although this tends to drive consumers to the fast food chains, some still are wary of fast food and where their food truly comes from.

Steve Foglesong, a cattle rancher from Vermont, Illinois is one of the many farmers that supplies McDonalds’ with it’s beef. In the commercial he shows consumers his family run cattle ranch and explains the daily life of a beef rancher. Once an abandoned coal mining site, Foglesong’s ranch has now transformed into a 5,000 acre cattle ranch. He currently has a herd of approximately 6,000 cattle and is currently one of the major suppliers for the fast food chain.  He takes pride in what he does each and everyday and makes sure that consumers are consuming a product that he himself would serve to his own family.

So just remember that the next time you’re out of the house and need something quick to eat at the local McDonalds, that burger you’re eating has been cared for and properly handled so that you can enjoy a delicious meal. Farmers and ranchers have a twenty-four hour job that continues to put obstacles in front of them to overcome and they do this all for the thousands of consumers around the nation and in the world. Nothing is more important for a farmer or rancher than knowing that they have produced a safe,wholesome and nutritious product from the labor of their own hands.

With a Cattle Calling,

Arika Snyder

Hey ya’ll,

This week as I started classes once again, I seemed to have a new look on the semester. Instead of being bogged down my multiple papers, test, exams and reading assignments I’ve committed myself to being a better student. In doing so, I have felt more engage and involved with my classes, not because I have to but, because I want to influence others around me with the knowledge I will learn while attending college. Interestingly enough, I decided this semester to take and AG Ethics class. The definition of ethics is a moral norm of an individual or a group and the morality is a person’s beliefs of feelings concerning their values, rules and principles. I know what you’re all thinking right now as you read this: “Arika we all know what ethics are, why are you trying to teach us a lesson in ethics?”  The truth is, ethics is vitally important, especially in the agriculture industry.

My professor decided that we would take part of the class time to discuss any current ethical issues in agriculture. As we all known, one of the most talked about issues is the use of antibiotics on livestock. I personally believe that antibiotics should be used in livestock production because it is essential for the animal’s health as well for the farmer to produce quality product. If you neglect to treat an animal for such illnesses, it can have a negative outcome for the animal as well as the producer.  Many consumers though, believe that it is not ethical to treat animals for diseases via antibiotics due to misconceptions of such drugs.  Antibiotics are also known as antimicrobials that fight bacterial infections. These drugs specifically to the beef industry are to help cattle regain or maintain superior health and produce safe beef.  Antibiotic use should be limited to prevent or control disease and should not be used if the direct intent is to improve performance.  A comment was made by a non-agriculture student in my ethics class that the opposing side would view consuming animals that have taken antibiotics as unhealthy and unsafe to consumers. He believed that animals given antibiotics could be consumed by a consumer, resulting in a harmful effect on the human’s body.

Hello ya’ll,

Arika here again to share my words of beef wisdom and to enlighten the readers of this blog site all the magical places the National Beef Ambassador Team travels to.  I just want to first state that since I have been chosen I look at how lucky I am to have such an opportunity to travel the nation to tell our industry’s story! I never knew I could have this much love for BEEF but it is so remarkable to look at how many key players there are in the beef industry that make it possible for consumers to serve a steak in their home.

Currently, I am writing to ya’ll from Denver, Colorado!! I know it may be strange on why one would be so excited to travel to a cold and snowy state, but the fact of the matter is, this girl is from Pennsylvania and has never seen a real mountain. I can now understand more in depth why farmers and ranchers out west have a love for the land and the environment, something to see for your own eyes! Enough with all my obsessed feelings about Denver and let me tell you the knowledge I’ve acquired over the last several days. If you haven’t read Rossie blog already I encourage you to read her blog and leave feedback comments with your own

insight before reading the rest of this blog post.   The National Beef Ambassador Team as well as myself have recently been attending the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People developed by Stephen Covey.  In today’s segment of the training I learned two new habits.

Habit 3- Put First things First : through this habit, even in the beef industry we all have our daily tasks that we need to complete and relationships we need to build with vendors, auction barns, and even feed companies when it comes down to producing quality beef. But one thing this habit point out is that not all things urgent should be the most important, sometimes the not so urgent may have a larger impact and result in your life. If you are a person that tends to always live in crises mode, it may be time to evaluate where you are going in life than watching your MPH.  What I’ve learned from this is that a planner will be my new best friend! I know I have deadlines especially with the National Team and school work, but I must also allow time to plan these events out so I don’t overload myself with stress.  I highly recommend those that are looking for a life vest in the sea of stress, go to the nearest store in the next several days and just grab those big rocks in your life or events that are truly important and schedule smartly.

Habit 4- Think Win-Win. This habit will be hard for myself to learn but I’m sure with time I will be able to overcome and succeed not only with the National Team but in my personal life as well. This was my favorite quote from this section of the seminar: “You don’t have to blow out the other person’s light to let your own shine”- Bernard M. Baruch.  This quote seemed to speak to me specifically because what I understand it is saying to me is that I should be proud of others accomplishments as well as my own and if we work as a team the success can only be greater in the ending. Although competition is friendly in the job market and as we relate it to the beef industry, we must understand how our actions may be perceived by others  and the integrity we have with others.  With a win-win attitude I hope that our National Team will develop faster solutions to problems as well as long lasting friendships that fuels’ our fire to promote and educate the nation about our ONE POWERFUL PROTEIN. Be sure to stay tuned to this site to look at the last and final day of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People!! Please, please, please be sure to leave me comments and feedbacks on your opinions of this seminar!

With a Cattle Calling [Moo to You ] ,

Arika Snyder

Happy Holidays to everyone from the National Beef Ambassadors including myself! On December 20^th, I traveled with the rest of the 2012 National Beef Ambassador Team to Wooster, Ohio where we were invited to Certified Angus Beef’s Head Quarters for their annual Building Block Seminar. We were welcomed by their friendly staff and learned so much about Certified Angus Beef.  The Certified Angus Beef brand is an important brand to beef industry.

In order to be considered Certified Angus Beef, beef cattle must pass all ten brand standards to qualify and also be black hided cattle. Certified Angus Beef exceeds USDA Prime, Choice and Select Beef Standards to ensure that you are getting quality beef product. I was so impressed with the Certified Angus Beef brand that I wanted to hear more about the company and learn how different they really are from the USDA selections in the supermarkets. If you are wondering as a consumer here are things to think about the next time you are buying beef at the store and see the Certified Angus Beef brand symbol.  To be considered a selection for Certified Angus Beef, cattle must reach modest or moderate marbling. Marbling is a key component to any choice of cut because it adds to the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor to a steak. The more marbling or fat you have on your steak, the better your chances are that even after cooking your beef at a high temperature that it will still have a tender and juicy taste. Maturity, as well as marbling is also key to the selection of the Certified Angus Beef brand.  “A” maturity are cattle that are harvested younger than 30 months of age, which is the most desired to be Certified Angus Beef. While if you were to select just USDA Prime and Choice cuts they can also include “B” maturity cattle that are 30-42 months of age.  The Certified Angus Beef brand takes pride in knowing that their brand defines a product that is tender, juicy and is packed full of flavor.

YUM! Everyone loves a nice juicy steak! Don’t forget that beef makes a great meal for the holiday parties and dinners you may be having over the next several days! Yea I know, beef on Christmas Day?! Let me remind you that BEEF is one powerful protein and you need fuel and energy this holiday season to spend time with loved ones and play with all those high tech gadgets. Who needs turkey on Christmas day, which tends to make everyone sleepy and tired from all the tryptophan ? Think about buying a nice Prime Rib or Tenderloin this year at the Supermarket and give the gift of protein, iron, and zinc to your family this holiday season. From my family to yours, have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and Merry Christmas everyone. Let us not forget all the blessed farmers and ranchers in this great nation who contribute their lives each and every day to support us with safe, wholesome, and nutritious food.

Celebrating Beef,

Arika Snyder

        Greetings from the Liberty State of Pennsylvania! My name is Arika Snyder, I am one of the five new members on the 2011-2012 National Beef Ambassador Team. It is such an honor to be representing our Nation’s Beef Industry and I take great pride in representing it each and every day. I won’t start from the very beginning of my existence, but I will let you in on how I got to where I am today.  I was lucky enough to have known someone who currently had been serving as Pennsylvania’s Beef Ambassador since last year. She approached me with an exciting opportunity to represent Pennsylvania’s beef industry. When I first heard about this opportunity, I was a bit wary of the decision and wasn’t sure that it was something worth applying for. I was only involved with my 4-H beef club for two years and barely knew all the basics of the industry itself. Before too long I prepared myself for the long road ahead of me and ended up walking away from the Beef Expo as the next Pennsylvania Beef Ambassador.

          Since then I have done various consumer events and educational trips, leading me to receiving my title in Wooster, Ohio late October. I thank everyone that has gotten me to where I am today. I care a great deal for the industry that we all know and love. As the 9^th generation to have worked  the land on my family’s farm, I know what it’s like to have a great sense of pride in the agriculture industry.  Not a day went by where I wasn’t asking my father if I could go to the barn to visit with the cows or help my grandfather rake and mow hay.  Agriculture runs deep in my blood and it holds the key morals and values that I have to this day.

            Like eHarmony, I guess I can let you in on activities I like to do and things I am involved with other than the Beef Industry. I am a current Undergraduate Student studying at Pennsylvania State University and my current major is Animal Science Science option.  My future goals after completion of my BS degree is to attend a 4 year Veterinary School and have a mixed practice vet clinic or pursue a career dealing with animal nutrition or genetics. I am a very personal and active member in my community and any person can attest that I can carry an excellent, well drawn out conversation for hours!  I hope that I can entertain as well as inform you about my passions in the industry and my sense of humor throughout the next year.  I plan on making these blogs personal so not only are you learning more about the industry itself but you can understand the person that I am and the character and morals that I hold!

With Beef Love,

Arika