"Preserve our Heritage and Protect our Future"

2009-2010 California Beef Ambassador Contest

• One will be Issues Response, in which contestants will write a brief response to a news article that will be provided to them about the beef industry .
• There will also be judging on Consumer Response, the contestant's knowledge and response to scripted consumer questions about beef.
• The third phase of judging will be Media Interview. This will involve a mock media interview with judging of the contestant's articulation, poise and knowledge of 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.