Talented young people in the beef industry are benefiting from a checkoff-funded effort called the Beef Ambassador Program.  Through the program, a handful of high school and college students represent the industry at events throughout the country.

Amanda Nolz, whose family has a purebred cattle operation near Mitchell, S.D., was the winner of the 2005 competition, and so is one of this year’s select few.  She says the program has a specific purpose.

Cut #1         :18          Outcue: "...later on in life."

Amanda has been training for this program for a long time.

Cut #2         :25          Outcue: "...rest of my life."

The knowledge Amanda is gaining these days will help her throughout her schooling and career.

Cut #3         :21          Outcue: "...job that I’ll love."

Amanda says she enjoys visiting with both producers and consumers... and has key messages for each.

Cut #4         :13          Outcue: "...into a healthy diet."

Amanda has a lot of appreciation for both beef producers and their $1-per-head checkoff program when it comes to the Beef Ambassadors.

Cut #5         :08          Outcue: "...value to their product."

The Beef Ambassador program is funded by America’s beef producers through the Beef Checkoff Program.  The Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Beef Ambassador Program is managed for the Beef Board by the American National CattleWomen.

The national Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, a group of 108 beef producers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.  They represent producers from coast-to-coast and volunteer their time to help identify programs that can help increase beef demand.  The checkoff was created in the 1985 Farm Bill, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

The American National CattleWomen, Inc. is a trade association of America's affiliated CattleWomen, with the primary focus of promotion and consumer education regarding beef as a safe and nutritious food, and the production of beef cattle as an industry.