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INMAN
JOINS BEEFMOBILE
FOR THE PROJECT'S FIFTH YEAR
COLORADO
SPRINGS, CO (Feb. 22, 2008) – The
Beefmobiles, vans emblazoned with visions of juicy steaks and burgers,
embarked on the project’s fifth tour of the United States
this January with the mission of delivering information to beef
and dairy producers about how their beef checkoff dollars are being
used.
Created to provide
information about beef and the checkoff’s $1-per-head assessment
to producers and consumers, the Beefmobile program has made almost
600 stops since its first stop in January 2004. In 2008 the three
Beefmobiles and their “Wranglers” will make 200 stops
to include livestock auction markets, country music festivals, and
rodeos across the country. At each location, the Beefmobiles and
their Wranglers provide information – and solicit input –
from cattlemen about the Beef Checkoff Program.
Jodee Inman
of Bloomington, Ind., joins returning Beefmobile team members Tracey
Orsburn of Harrison, Neb., and Stacy Loutzenhiser of Flagler, Colo.,
as a new wrangler.
Inman has worked
in the cattle industry as a producer and staff for several marketing
establishments throughout her high school and college career, as
well as an auctioneer for eight years. She served as a liaison between
auctioneers and cattle buyers at Owen-Monroe Feeder Auction Association
in Spencer, Ind., White River Valley Feeder Auction Association
in Worthington, Ind., and for United Producers, Inc. at their Scottsburg
and Vincennes, Ind., markets. Inman has a management degree from
Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.; and she is also a graduate
of the Missouri Auction School in St. Joseph, Mo.
Inman said her
interest in the Beefmobile project was sparked during its inaugural
run in 2004.
“It’s
a great opportunity as a representative from the Midwest to experience
the vastness of the producers and operations throughout the country
and to be able to act as a voice for them when it comes to their
input, feedback and questions about the Checkoff,” Inman said.
“The Checkoff is an integral part of the industry and I’m
honored to be a link in the chain of communication between the Cattlemen’s
Beef Board and producers.”
According to
Orsburn, who also serves as the Beefmobile Project Manager, new
additions to the project this year include a Checkoff trivia wheel,
Proud Beef Producer campaign, “talking” boxes featuring
beef checkoff information, and heat-and-serve beef samples. The
Beefmobile has already made several stops in Louisiana, Alabama,
the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., and in South Dakota
in January.
“The highlight
of this project continues to be learning how many dedicated people
there are in the beef industry and having a chance to work with
them as well as visiting with beef producers about the beef checkoff
on a day-to-day basis,” Orsburn said. “This program
helps address the misinformation out in the country in regard to
the true purpose of the checkoff and the role it plays in the promotion
and research that would be missing without it.”
The Beefmobile
program is coordinated on behalf of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board
by the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA), which is
one of the Beef Board’s contractors for beef checkoff-funded
programs. For more information about the Beefmobile visit www.Beefmobile.com.
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The Beef Checkoff was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill.
The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and
imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported
beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar
and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s
Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national
Checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. Checkoff revenues may
be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve
the marketing climate for beef.
The National Livestock Producers Association, founded in 1921, is
an organization of livestock marketing cooperatives and credit corporations
representing more than 200,000 livestock producers nationwide.
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©
2008 Cattlemen's Beef Board
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