National Beef Cook-off rules and information are available at www.beefcookoff.org or by calling American National CattleWomen at 303-694-0313.

Suggested Lead:

March 31 is the final day to enter the 2005 National Beef Cook-off. This biennial event offers consumers a chance to enter their favorite beef recipes in a nationwide competition, explains project manager Sherry Hill of the American National CattleWomen.

Cut #1    :20       Outcue: "...distributed to consumers."

Hill says that this year’s competition includes new categories.

Cut #2    :23       Outcue: "...really accentuate beef."

Hill explains that entries are screened through the beef industry’s Culinary Center, then finalists will compete in September in Rapid City, South Dakota, for a top prize of $50,000.

Cut #3    :25       Outcue: "...twenty-first of September."

She emphasized that the support of the Beef Checkoff Program and Albertsons supermarkets is critical to the success of the cook-off.

Cut #4    :34       Outcue: "...Web site as well."

The national Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef 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.