"Preserve our Heritage and Protect our Future"

2009-2010 California Beef Ambassadors

Stacy Stroing, Tehama County was winner of the junior division, with reserve to Miriam Cowley, Siskiyou. Honorable mention in no special order: Josh Bohrn, Shasta; Hayley Davis, Napa/Solano; Parker Crouse, Kern; and Katelynn Bradford, Alameda.

Observing the consumer interaction were the judges: Susan Puentes, National Retail Account Manager for Cryovac Food Packaging; Laura Norman, Director of Marketing, California Beef Council; and Eleanor Trucchio, owner of Lone Valley Ranch, Santa Maria.  Analisa Clark, outreach coordinator, San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau was judge for the Issues Portion of the Contest.

The seniors also had a mock media interview, and the man behind the microphone was Cal Poly Ag Communications professor Richard Gearhart, who is also KSBY Action News Daybreak News Anchor. Judging were Gearhart, Christie Van Egmond, Associate Director of Marketing and Public
Relations, California Beef Council and Rich Silacci, dairy farm manager, Cal Poly.

Following the judging we met at the brand new Cal Poly Beef Center where the Collegiate Cattlemen (and women) hosted a barbecued tri tip luncheon.  Mike Hall, Cal Poly beef instructor told us about the rotational grazing the registered and commercial cow herds have over the 4,000 acres of pastures.

We learned about the environmental riparian water projects they have done as part of the Morro Bay Watershed viewing pictures, and then actually walking to the sites on the currently dry creeks.  Cal Poly has also cut their cow numbers due to the drought.

The California Beef Ambassador Co- Chairs are Rebecca Been and Amanda Rankin.  (Amanda was the 2007 National Beef Ambassador.)  They did a great job co-ordinating the contest.  Good maps and directions, signs, judges, motel, programs, snacks, etc.   Many thanks to the San Luis Obispo
CattleWomen for volunteering at the event, and Mike Hall, Richard Gearhart and Bill Kellogg of Cal Poly.

The incentive prizes were sponsored by California Beef Council.  Each contestant received $ 50, and Senior winner $ 400, 2nd place $ 300.  In Junior division, 1st was $ 200, 2nd was $ 100.  Each contestant also received a duffle bag, a guide with hints for being a beef ambassador in your local area, plus a media booklet from CBC on beef information.

We have a group of great spokespersons for the beef industry.

While preparing for this national speaking competition, youth learn about the importance of the beef industry and beef as an agricultural product. The program highlights the positive impact the cattle industry has on our economy and families.  Trained youth ambassadors address industry issues and misconceptions, while they help educate peers, consumers and producers about food safety, nutrition and the beef checkoff program.  Please visit the National Beef Ambassador web site for full details.

Contestants participating in the National Beef Ambassador Competition presented a speech about the promotional aspects of beef, completed interviews with media and beef-industry representatives and attended a checkoff-funded educational workshop titled “Telling the Production Story.”  The workshop was sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program. 

The California Beef Council (CBC) was established in 1954 to serve as the promotion, research, and education arm of the California beef industry, and is mandated by the California Food and Agricultural Code. The council is comprised of 42 members, who are appointed by the California Secretary of Agriculture. The council members set priorities for CBC and represent all segments of beef production within California including range cattle, dairy cattle, feedlots, packers/processors and the general public. For more information, visit www.calbeef.org.

In 1985, a national Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), which oversees the national Beef Checkoff Program. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef. The CBB’s 104 members are appointed by and held accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Board members represent all segments of the beef industry, including beef, veal and dairy producers, and importers. For more information, visit www.beefboard.org.