The 15th annual California Beef Ambassador state finals were held May 13th at the University of California, Davis with Amanda Rankin sponsored by Kern County CattleWomen being named winner.
Miss Rankin is the 19 year old daughter of Bill and Glenda Rankin of Caliente, and a 2nd year student at Cal Poly,San Luis Obispo, Chico majoring in Animal Business. She grew up on her family's cattle/guest ranch in Walker Basin.
Her talk reminded the judges and audience that we must educate the consumers that we care for the land and our animals.   Cattle graze land that isn't suitable for farming and the grass they harvest is turned into nutrient dense food for humans.  Beef is important in well balanced diets with the ten essential nutrients.  In conclusion she stated it is important to incorporate agriculture into the school curriculum.

Runner-up was awarded to Keely Oswald of Grover Beach, 18 year old daughter of Ted and Eileen Oswald and sponsored by San Luis Obispo CattleWomen.  She is a senior at Arroyo Grande High School and has been active in 4-H and FFA.
"American beef is safe because of the U.S.D.A. inspections for food safety", as Miss Oswald compared beef to her car.  Cattle contribute to the environment by grazing, and ranchers use rotational grazing to improve their pastures. Keely noted the essential vitamins and minerals that are found in beef  as she concluded with "animal welfare is a human  responsibility, and the humane slaughter act of America ensures the welfare of animals at harvesting time."

2006 National Beef Ambassador Melissa Green, 2007 California Beef Ambassador--Amanda Rankin, 
CCW President Gretchen Johnson, CCW Beef Ambassador chair Barbara Cowley.

Honorable Mention to the other four senior contestants:

Representing  the Lassen County CattleWomen was 17 year old Amanda Johnson of Janesville, daughter of  Claudia and Mark Johnson.  She has been active in 4-H and FFA raising steers and a member of the horse judging team at Lassen High School.
Miss Johnson commented that people don't realize that a 3 oz. beef steak has only 1 more gram of fat than a chicken breast as she proceeded to tell her audience about why they need iron, zinc, Vitamin B 12, and protein for a healthy life style.  There are many lean cuts of beef so "Eat your beef, It's good for you."

Casey Joiner was sponsored by Shasta County CattleWomen, and is the 18 year old daughter of Craig and Anna Joiner of Shingletown.  She is a freshman at Shasta College and plans to transfer to a University and major in Animal Science.
She told of the story of a juicy hamburger and where the beef came from; perhaps the ranch down the road, or a feedlot, or maybe the beef had been imported.  The loss of our export market  was mentioned.

Janice Bridwell is from a fifth generation Siskiyou County family who has farmed, ranched and worked in the timber industry.  A senior at Yreka High School, she is the 18 year old daughter of Roger and Kim Bridwell of Gazelle and has been active in 4-H and FFA.
Siskiyou County CattleWomen sponsored  this contestant who spoke on how beef demand has changed because women are working outside the home.  In response to the change, the beef industry has developed precooked beef products that need only seven minutes to heat.  The beef industry has also identified 29 lean cuts of beef.

Diana Talley was sponsored by Tehama County CattleWomen, and is the 18 year
old daughter of Dave and Jackie Talley of Corning.  She is a senior at Corning High School, and president of her local FFA chapter.  After school and weekends she works for Pacific International Genetics and North Valley Sires dealing with large animal reproduction.
She discussed BSE and the effect it had on the American beef industry, when the export market was lost.  Diana reassured her audience that American beef is safe because of the regulations in place to maintain a healthy product.

Pictured are: Judge Dr. Jim Oltgen; CCW President Gretchen Johnson; Janice Bridwell, Siskiyou County; Diana Talley, Tehama;  2007 CA Beef Ambassador, Amanda Rankin, Kern; Keely Oswald, San Luis Obispo;  Liz Hurd, San Luis Obispo Jr; Casey Joiner, Shasta; Amanda Johnson, Lassen; Kaitlyn Harr, Shasta Jr;  Judge Holly Foster;  Judge Rachel Fehringer; CA Beef Ambassador chair Barbara Cowley.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

California Beef Council
5726 Sonoma Drive.,
Suite A
Pleasanton, CA 94566-7751
                925-484-2333

The National Beef Ambassador program is sponsored by The American National CattleWomen, Inc; and the Cattlemen's Beef Board, and in California by California CattleWomen, Inc; and the California Beef Council in co-operation with the University of California, Davis and Farm Credit Services of Colusa-Glenn.

Beef Industry Training session was conducted by Holly Foster and Christie Van Egmond as the Beef Ambassadors, their families and friends visited part of UCD Farm with Dr Jim Oltgen.

Judges were Dr. Jim Oltgen, University of California Coperative Extension Animal Management Systems Specialist; Holly Foster of California Beef Council, director of public relations; Rachel Fehringer, marketing manager for the California Farm Bureau Federation in Sacramento. Barbara Cowley, of Montague is California Beef Ambassador chair.

New this year was the Junior Beef Ambassador competition for boys and girls 14 to 16 years of age.
First place and $ 200 to Liz Hurd, 16 years old from San Luis Obispo County. Her parents are Bob and Margie Hurd of Arroyo Grande. In her speech she mentioned that beef is the all star of your nutrient team because of ZIP, plus the other minerals and vitamins.
$100 and second place to Kaitlin Harr of Whitmore.  Her parents are Randall and Sharman Harr and she is a 15 year old sophomore at Anderson Union High School.  She told her audience about the differences between grain fed and grass fed beef.
The Senior Beef Ambassadors will be giving talks to civic organizations this coming year as they compete for $1500 in incentive prizes. $1,000 was presented to Melissa Green, 2005 California Beef Ambassador in recognition of her promotion of beef to nearly four million people via newspapers, magazines, television, public appearances as a National Beef Ambassador.
Melissa also presented a workshop for parents to help them prepare and support their beef ambassadors in their efforts to promote the beef industry and develop their leadership skills.
Hostesses for the competition were Denise Groesbeck, president of Glenn-Colusa CattleWomen and Sherry Maltby
- article submitted by Jean Barton

National Beef Ambassadors were present at the American National CattleWomen
Mid-year meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 9-11, 2006.  California's Melissa
Green, right, with Peter Scharpe, Minnesota and Amanda Nolz of South Dakota.

To see contest winners from 2005-06, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2004-05, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2003-04, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2002-03, please click here.
 

The purpose of the National Beef Ambassador Program is to train youth spokespersons ages 16-19 for promotion of beef and the beef industry. Through preparation for the competition, contestants gain knowledge about the beef industry and the importance of beef as an agricultural product, focusing on the positive impact of the beef cattle industry on our economy, our environment, and on our families as producers and consumers.