Nebraska Cattlewomen

Ambassadors Are an Asset to the Beef Industry

By Bonita Lederer

    Nebraska is the Beef State. Young and old alike should be actively involved in promoting beef. Do you know a youth between the ages of 8 and 20? Why not get them involved in the Nebraska Beef Ambassador contest. Who better to be promoting our product than our future state leaders? Participants prepare a speech regarding beef and/or the beef industry, and present their speech to judges. After the contest, participants are then encouraged to continue giving their speeches at area events. Speeches are presented across the state in classrooms, at 4-H meetings and community events. The senior contestant who wins the state contest is eligible to compete in the national contest.

   Wouldn’t it be great to see a youth from the BEEF State of Nebraska become a National Beef Ambassador and represent the industry? This youth would be representing Nebraska and sharing their knowledge about our industry.

   Recently, the USDA’s AMS Livestock and Seed Program and the American National CattleWomen joined to establish an annual USDA internship for a young student who has participated in the beef checkoff-funded National Beef Ambassador Program.

   The Nebraska Beef Ambassador contest is an annual project sponsored by the Nebraska Beef Council, Farm Credit Services and the Nebraska CattleWomen.

   The following was taken from “A Great Recipe for the Beef Industry’s Future,” by Carol Abrahamzon, project manager of the National Beef Ambassador Program. Here’s a perfect recipe for the beef industry: Combine a bundle of energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, then add a batch of intelligence and speaking ability. Sprinkle with a desire to educate others and a bit of wanderlust. What would you call it? The “National Beef Ambassador Program” would be an ideal choice.

   Created in 1988, the National Beef Ambassador Program is a way for young people ages 17 to 20 to educate peers, consumers and beef producers about beef nutrition and food safety. It’s funded by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and is coordinated by the American National CattleWomen, Inc. (ANCW).

   Each year, five students are selected from around the country as National Beef Ambassadors via competition that features speeches and interviews with media and beef industry leaders. Each of the five receive cash and scholarship prizes, but more important, get a chance to travel the country for a year, representing the beef industry and the Beef Checkoff Program at both consumer and producer functions.

Boosting beef to
consumers

   It’s an effort that carries a powerful message on behalf of beef producers. “If consumers don’t buy beef after they hear from these kids, they sure won’t buy beef from some grumpy old codger with dirty overalls and a bad attitude,” says Trent Loos, a sixth-generation cattle producer. “We need to be thankful and proud that these kids are speaking for our industry.”

   “I really think the American National CattleWomen have polished some rare gems with this program,” Loos wrote in a recent column about the Ambassadors. “These youngsters have experience in the industry, education about the nutrition of beef and food safety that I’m sure most producers don’t have a clue about, and the sincere belief that they can make a difference in the world by being a part of the livestock industry.”

Coast to coast

   Travel is a requisite in the Ambassador Program. Only those students willing and able to travel during the year can be selected for the position. This year’s winners have gone from the World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif., to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg – and many points in between. They will have had the opportunity to participate in the Boston Marathon (as presenters, not runners) and a barbecue on the Washington Capital Mall in Washington, D.C.

Exceptional young people

   Winner of the 2006 Beef Ambassador competition last summer was Amanda Nolz, whose family raises purebred Limousin cattle near Mitchell, S.D. For her efforts, Amanda won $2,500 cash and a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice.

   Amanda says her goal of being an Ambassador started eight years ago when she was a Junior Beef Ambassador. “Since then, it’s been a dream of mine to be the National Beef Ambassador,” she says. “This is something I’m going to value for the rest of my life.”

   A recent survey shows that other young people in the national competition share Nolz’s hopes. Fully 80 percent say they plan to go on to careers in agriculture.

New participants wanted

   All of the 2006 Ambassadors agree about one thing – being able to participate in the program is the chance of a lifetime. “This is truly a wonderful opportunity for students,” says Melissa Green, Beef Ambassador. “We owe a lot of thanks to those who help sponsor it.”

   “It really means a lot that beef producers and their checkoff leaders value the youth in this way,” Nolz says. “Their belief that we can be spokespersons for them to add value to their product is encouraging.” Q

   Nancy Stirling-Neuhauser, a beef producer from South Dakota and 2006 ANCW president, believes that while the students can get an education in other agricultural associations, the Ambassador Program is something special – and specific to the beef industry.  “We’re giving them an opportunity they may not have had anywhere else,” she says. “I think it’s a great program.”

   “We’re not just training tomorrow’s beef industry leaders,” says Abrahamzon. “We’re also training messengers for the beef industry. That’s what the checkoff dollars going into this program are all about.”

   For more information about the Nebraska Beef Ambassador contest, contact Judy Reece, 2007 Nebraska CattleWomen president, at (402) 376-1879 .  Y  Bonita Lederer, Lincoln, just completed her year as Nebraska CattleWomen president.