Beef Ambassador

Howdy y’all!

The following is a blog written by Erin Morrison, an enthusiastic and passionate State Beef Ambassador from Minnesota. I hope you read along and enjoy her recent experience promoting BEEF to school age children!

Thanks & Gig’em

Greetings from Minnesota-

My name is Erin Morrison and I am a proud beef ambassador from the state of Minnesota! I would like to share one of the many lessons I have learned while representing the beef industry. This past week, my sister and I had to opportunity to read to the second graders in our school district. I expected a long afternoon filled with loud, uninterested kids but put a smile on my face anyway. Luckily, these kids proved me wrong. The kids were a joy to be around and reminded me a lot about life.
The biggest surprise about these second graders was there attention to detail and willingness to learn. Throughout our entire story the children listened intently and asked question about the concepts they didn’t understand. After the story, they passed out test with flying colors; remembering everything from what an ear tag tells the farmer to the types of feed a cow eats during the stages of its life.

Even better than the intelligence of these children was their attitudes. The smiles never left their bright faces, and when we returned to read to the second half of the classes we were greeted with big hugs from the children we had already read to. There was not a bit of hesitation with these kids, they were open to meeting new people and ready to learn about farming. When prompted to answer questions, these kids excitedly raised their hands to share the information they had learned. When given a treat they politely took their fair share and thanked us. The passion and enthusiasm in these kids was contagious.

Looking at young students it is easy to believe that we are all wiser and more mature than a group of seven year olds, but they have some very valuable lessons to teach us if we are willing to listen. I’m not sure at what point we lose the passion and enthusiasm that all kids are born with, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could try to bring it back. This week, I challenge everybody to try to look at the world through the eyes of a second grader. Bring back the joy of learning we used to posses and appreciate the education we are given. When presented with a new or scary situation approach it with an open mind and excitement about the possibilities. Most importantly, be thankful for all the blessings we are given. Looking at the world through the eyes of a second grader doesn’t necessarily mean we have to color with crayons. Just take the time to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life.

-Erin Morrison

Howdy,

Alright I’m back! Last week we explored the promotion aspect of the Beef Checkoff. This week I will move on towards the next piece of this multi-faceted organization- Research

In the beef cattle industry, two key topics often stand out when prioritizing research goals. The first being nutrition, and the second one feed efficiency, or sustainability.

Ethanol: Well known in the standard population is the fact that ethanol is made from corn. Less contemplated, is the potential for impact this represents to cattle producers.

The Concern: As one ton of corn is being shipped off for this revolutionary type of fuel, that same ton of corn will not be fed to cattle, the very cattle which will produce the main course for the American family-BEEF.

What did the Beef Checkoff alongside NCBA discover?

Check it out at: http://www.beefresearch.org/CMDocs/BeefResearch/Ethanol%20Co-Products%20Summit%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

Ultimately through the Checkoff and NCBA’s work, distiller’s grain (ethanol by-product) is now fed to cattle as part of a balanced diet. Cattle ranchers are dedicated to sustainable agriculture, and aren’t we proud to have a program such as the Checkoff to aid in this reality.

Cholesterol: Stop eating red meat and you will lower your cholesterol. What do you think? This is the word many of us have heard from medical experts and nutritional websites. Is it true? The following is a statement posted on RKM-Research and Knowledge Management funded by the Beef Checkoff.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) in January 2012 provides strong scientific evidence that eating lean beef every day as part of a heart-healthy diet improves cholesterol levels. This research shows that adding daily servings of lean beef to the low saturated fat, high fiber, heart-healthy diet typically recommended by health professionals (such as DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) can lower heart disease risk by reducing levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol. Go to Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) to access the full study on the AJCN website. 

We all desire to maintain optimal health, and wouldn’t it be nice to truly know the causes for cholesterol, cancer, and high blood pressure? The Checkoff is working diligently to analyze the part beef plays in our lives when it comes to nutrition.

Check out other nutritional research projects funded by the Beef Checkoff at: http://www.beefresearch.org/humannutritionresearch.aspx

The research department of the Beef Checkoff, is actively exploring the uncharted of both human nutrition and the health of our beef cattle. The studies they publish are implemented as industry standards, and trust worthy enough to be held as fact in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. An efficient, reliable program, funded by cattle producers, applicable to everyone-Genius

Thanks and Gig’em

-Emily E. Jack

Howdy,

Often, people recognize a large red check inlayed with the image of a cow, and black letters as the symbol of the Beef Checkoff, but what is their goal? Consisting of 6 primary targets the Beef Checkoff is funded through the sale of cattle. $1 off every head sold is implemented into programs and research, aiding in industry best practices and marketing. The next few weeks I will be exploring and sharing the impact the Beef Checkoff has on our great industry. Let’s start out with mission statement number one.

The following information can be found at http://www.beefboard.org/producer/CBBFinalUnderstandingBrochure.pdf

Promotion

Includes advertising, merchandising, new-product development and promotional partnerships with restaurants and supermarkets designed to stimulate sales of beef and veal.

This week I will target two promotional endeavors the Beef Checkoff is crucial in sustaining.

National Beef Ambassadors

Yes that’s right!  Our very team if funded by the Checkoff.  Traveling to the PA farm show, 2012 annual cattle convention in Nashville, on towards Boston and ending in California this team is dedicated to promoting our industry. Outfitted in Bright Red Shirts we teach, we share, we learn.

Learn more at http://www.nationalbeefambassador.org/

Team BEEF

Team BEEF competes in athletic events, showcasing their checkoff jerseys and beef’s ability to sustain high performance activity. This is the invitation from Team BEEF.

Join Team BEEF to demonstrate how BEEF protein provides FUEL FOR THE FINISH!

There’s no better way to demonstrate the nutritious, high quality protein found in beef than to run a 5k, a half marathon, or a full marathon with beef giving you that extra surge to push through the finish line, hands in the air, and that big red check on your jersey. Promotion at its finest!

Check out Team BEEF at: http://teambeef.org/

Without our hardworking ranchers supporting the Beef Checkoff we wouldn’t have this program dedicated to promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications. Thank your nearest rancher, they are the backbone of these programs.

Next week we’ll explore: Research

Thanks and Gig’em

-Emily E. Jack

Howdy y’all!

Observing from a young age, I have been show that agriculture, especially the beef industry, is comprised of some of the hardest working, most dedicated individuals. Their passion shines through, offering an honest presence and warm countenance. Our industry leaders have great demands placed atop their shoulders, and consistently innovate to surpass expectations. What is the key to both effective and efficient work ethic?   In the program titled 7 Habits of Highly Effective People this very thing is the focus incorporated into a thought provoking, interactive learning experience. What a great week we, as the National Beef Team, have had. We learned to be efficient not only for the beef industry but as uniquely individual people. Taught by our very own Sarah Bohnenkamp, attended by a few State Beef Ambassadors and American National Cattle Women, the generational spread was both intriguing, and highly effective at shifting paradigms. The 7^th and final habit, titled Sharpen the Saw, brought the building blocks of success together into one concept. With so many demands on our time, emotions, and bodies, we must schedule to renew and sharpen our saw in EVERY part of our lives. Ask yourself these four questions:  Taken from the 7 Habits workbook.

Physical: Assume you had a heart attack in the last month. How would you approach exercise and nutrition?

Social/Emotional: Assume that everything you say about people will be heard

by them. How might you choose your words differently?

Mental: Assume your knowledge and skills will be obsolete in two years.

What new learning avenues would you explore?

Spiritual: Assume you have a year to live. What legacy would you want to leave?

Actively building strength in every circle is crucial. Without it we are not operating at full potential.
Thanks for reading!

-Emily E. Jack

Howdy Y’all,

                Can you believe we are close to wrapping up yet another year? Christmas will find us early in the morning. We students have just completed finals and soon each of us will begin making our New Year’s resolutions, not to mention tax returns and another semester.
Personally, I am looking forward to 2012 with excited anticipation because it is the year I get to serve as a National Beef Ambassador alongside my passionate teammates advocating for the Beef Industry.  As you may be able to tell from the greeting, I am born and raised Texan and will always bleed maroon. I am currently a freshman at Texas A&M University in Animal Science with a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in equine studies.  My eventual goal is to complete Veterinary Medical School and work as a large animal Vet.  From life experience, I can say that the Beef Industry is full of honest, hardworking individuals who take pride in what they produce and the pleasure that their families and their neighbors- that you and I take in American Beef. I am passionate about researching topics focused on animals which affect humans and our health, such as nutrition and reproduction. I will never stop learning, and I look forward to sharing interesting discoveries with y’all! We have many exciting trips planned for this next year and I hope to meet some of you at each event.

Thanks, Merry Christmas, and Gig ‘em.

Emily E. Jack