Mon., Sept. 29 03 -- Virginian Wins Grand Prize in National Beef Cook-off

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Lori Welander [WELL-n-der] of Richmond, Virginia has won the $50,000 “Best of Beef” Prize in the 2003 National Beef Cook-off. She won on her recipe for Grilled Steak Balsamico [Bal-SAM-ico]. The checkoff-funded contest was held in Fort Worth, Texas last Friday and Saturday. According to Jill Ginn [hard G as in “game”], about 3,000 recipes were entered from across the nation. Ginn, from Hereford, Texas, is president of the Texas CattleWomen and host state chair of the Cook-Off.

Cut #1       :26            Outcue: "...’Best of Beef’ prize."

Ginn says the Texas CattleWomen were eager to host the event this year.

Cut #2       :18            Outcue: "...a really great celebration."

According to Ginn, prizes are awarded for recipes that reflect creativity and convenience.

Cut #3       :12            Outcue: "...and that is $50,000."

Ginn says the National Beef Cook-off is designed to increase producer profitability by encouraging recipes with under-utilized cuts of beef from the chuck and round.

Cut #4       :19            Outcue: "...grills that we're using."

To see the list of Cook-off winners and their winning recipes, visit Web site www.beefcookoff.org. The $1-per-head beef checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, subject to approval from the Department of Agriculture.