Have You Herd…
… “Like” MyBeefCheckoff on Facebook for the latest news and updates.
… View the new Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. online video called The Island.
… Producers are encouraged about foreign marketing opportunities.
USFRA Hosts Second Round of Food Dialogues
Farmers and ranchers are headed to Los Angeles -- the entertainment capital of the world -- for the second Food Dialogues event, June 20-21, 2012.
Four separate discussions held over two days will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
All panel discussions taking place at the event entitled, "Lights, Camera, Food: Perceptions and Realities of Farming and Ranching in America," will be available online (either live streamed or taped) at www.fooddialogues.com.
Two of the four panel discussions will stream live online on both Wednesday, June 20 and Thursday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, providing opportunities for farmers, ranchers and the general public to register to watch and participate in the discussion online.
Additionally, individuals with a Twitter account can follow all of the panel discussions by following @USFRA using #FoodD.
USFRA is funded in part by the beef checkoff.
New beef products – Available this month!
New beef products go through a rigorous, calculated process from concept to launch. However, once they’re out on the shelves and into the hands of our consumers, these new products help drive beef demand and ensure a market for cattle producers in the United States. New beef products really are the cornerstone of the future: As consumer attitudes and desires change, the checkoff’s Beef Innovations Group changes along with them and delivers products consumers want.
J.M. Garret Foods, Inc., is in the introductory phase of rolling out three new fun appetizer products loaded with beef and other quality ingredients. The new products are great for people on-the-go who either want a quick lunch or dinner, or for the “4th meal” crowd who want an afternoon snack to get them through the rest of the day. Each product is designed to be either deep fried or baked in an oven.
Here’s the lineup:
- Philly Cheesesteak Bite: Seasoned steak pieces and cheese combine with onions and green peppers to provide a true cheesesteak experience in a golden-brown breading
- Beefy Queso Bite: Seasoned ground beef blended with queso sauce and then coated with a golden-brown flour tortilla flakes
- Rueben Bite: Corned beef surrounds Swiss cheese and is enrobed in a golden-brown breading speckled with caraway seeds
Visit BeefInnovationsGroup.com for more information on the new product development process.
Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) Member Profile: Cheryl Day, Central, Illinois
Cheryl is a ninth generation farmer who earned her degree in Ag-Business from Illinois State University then returned to farm. She and her husband, along with their two children-Sierra (14) and Chayton (8), raise corn, soybeans, and registered Angus Cattle.
Q: You have a great blog. How do you decide what topics to write about? Do you have a writing schedule? What made want to start blogging? Tips for grads thinking about starting a blog?
Cheryl Day (CD): Blogging is an excellent opportunity to open the barn doors. As farmers and ranchers we work long, hard countless hours to produce quality products for the world. However, many times we are so busy working that we do not engage in conversation about our "world" of farming and ranching.
I started blogging to tell my agriculture story and express my perspective on timely events. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a guest blogger on AgWeb.com. My topics do range from livestock to crops to just being a mom. Most of my topic ideas are inspired by current events, holidays, or daily activities.
I do think it is important to establish a communication plan for your blog. My blog plan includes three overall goals including schedule and themes. However, I admit life gets in the way of any best laid plan.
Prior to writing a blog post I identify my key message and the audience I plan to reach. I also gather document facts, links, personal photos, and graphics to enhance the eye-appeal of my blog.
Q: You are also very active in the social media space. Any tips or advice you can give members looking to get more involved with those tools?
A: They are discussing agriculture with or without me. Social Media provides an opportunity for the 2% of the world to be 'social' with 98% of the world in an instant. People want to identify with People.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for developing a personal social media platform. At the end of the day, I want to build a relationship with my online community, let them walk in my shoes as a farmer, and be a reliable source of information. Nevertheless, this does not happen overnight. The key to developing your online message is first being a great listener. The internet is the world's largest focus group and you just tapped into it. The information you gather can be molded into timely, powerful messages.
I encourage more farmers and ranchers to get involved with social media. At first pick a social media tool that allows you to develop online messages that match your offline messages. The social media world can be overwhelming but you owe it to yourself to do one thing that scares you every day. Many farmers and ranchers use the internet to gather news. An effective way to participate in the online conversation, without log into a Facebook or Twitter account, is to make meaningful-factual comments on new stories.
To sign up for the checkoff’s MBA program, send an email to mba@beef.org.
May Beef Month Tours in New York
The New York Beef Industry Council (NYBIC) traveled 1,000 miles to encounter 1,000 head of cattle in their annual May is Beef Month tours throughout New York State!
NYBIC’s annual May Beef Month Tours “A Farm to Fork Experience”, funded by South Dakota checkoff dollars, was a whirlwind of three different tours of three New York farms across New York State. Over 60 influencers from a variety of industries attended the tours (dietitians, School Food Service Directors, Retailers, Food Service Distributors, Family and Consumer Science educators and the media).
Each tour boasted a “Lunch and Learn” where New York Strip Steaks were grilled to perfection each rubbed with NYBIC’s created spice “Cutting Edge” Beef Rub.
Click here for more about beef in New York.
Comments (1) Leave a comment