Funded through the Beef Checkoff Program, the Beef Backer Awards recognize independent and chain restaurants that set the highest standards in menuing and marketing beef. Golden Corral Restaurants was honored this year as one of three national winners. Beverly Lynch is vice president of food and beverage for North Carolina-based Golden Corral.

Cut #1         :08         Outcue: "...representing Golden Corral."

Lynch says advancements in beef quality and processing are extremely important to the success of Golden Corral, as beef plays such a prominent role on its menu.

Cut #2        :27         Outcue: "...in top sirloins."

She explained that while Golden Corral has experienced staff at each location, there’s still a lot to be learned by working with state beef councils.

Cut #3        :22         Outcue: "...offer to our guests."

Lynch says the North Carolina Beef Council’s assistance has been especially helpful with regard to underutilized, economical cuts of beef. 

Cut #4        :20         Outcue: "...into our restaurants."

National Beef Backer Award winners were announced at the recent Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Denver. The national winners in each category were:

• Golden Corral (Raleigh, N.C.), Restaurant Chain category
• The Branding Iron Restaurant (Merced, Calif.), Independent Restaurant category
• Trostel’s Greenbriar (Johnston, Iowa), “Innovator of the Year.”

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.