Oct. 4, 2004 - Observer Has Eyes Opened at Operating Committee Meeting

When the Beef Promotion Operating Committee met recently in Denver to finalize budget for the checkoff’s 2005 fiscal year, several people in the audience were seeing the process for the first time.  One of the people was Todd Johnson, the new executive director for the Kansas Beef Council.  Johnson says he was impressed with the level of detail achieved in the budgeting for 2005 programs.

Cut #1     :36        Outcue: "...is doing for me."

According to Johnson, the fact that there is diversity among the 20 producers on the committee helps give the committee a broad perspective.

Cut #2     :25        Outcue: "...with demand increase."

No punches are pulled by committee members during budget and program deliberations.

Cut #3     :13        Outcue: "...asking tough questions."

Overall, Johnson is impressed with how the checkoff budgeting process works.

Cut #4     :24      Outcue: "...it’s really thorough."

The fiscal year for the national Beef Checkoff Program began Oct. 1.  The National Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, a group of 108 beef producers from across the country who volunteer their time to help identify programs that can increase beef demand.  It was created in the 1985 Farm Bill, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.