DeSmet Beef Producers Honored in Nashville

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns congratulates Nancy and Bob Montross on receiving the Trailblazer Award during the 2007 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville .

PIERRE (February 5, 2007)--Thousands of beef producers in Nashville, Tenn., gave a standing ovation to a South Dakota couple accepting the prestigious Trailblazer Award on February 2. Bob and Nancy Montross, DeSmet beef producers, were honored by BEEF magazine for their efforts as volunteer leaders in promoting and building demand for beef products. The annual award was presented during the general session of the 2007 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show.
         “The Montrosses’ continued and tireless efforts on behalf of promoting beef serve as an example to all producers regarding the important and creative roles the grassroots can play in better serving U.S. consumers while building demand for beef products,” said BEEF Editor Joe Roybal when presenting the award.
        As honorees of the 13^th Trailblazer Award, which is sponsored by New Holland, the South Dakota beef producers and promoters were also featured on the cover of the November 2006 issue of BEEF magazine.
        “It’s easy to promote the world’s greatest product, beef, produced by the world’s greatest people,” said Nancy while accepting the award. The couple also had a chance to meet U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, who spoke to producers.
        The Montrosses’ have been involved in numerous beef promotion activities, including helping to develop and now maintain, with a volunteer board of directors, the successful South Dakota Beef Bucks program. That program includes the unique South Dakota Beef Bucks VISA® card and Beef Bucks certificates--which can be used to purchase beef at retail outlets or restaurants. There have been BEEF…Our Steak in the Future!” billboards, South Dakota Beef Bucks cookbooks, a South Dakota Beef Bucks Golf Challenge and serving beef to Minnesota Vikings players, personnel and their families this past summer at a pre-season picnic in Minneapolis.
        Nancy , past president of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC), now serves as an SDBIC director representing the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, one of the organizations that comprise the SDBIC.
        The SDBIC collects and administers the beef checkoff on cattle sold in South Dakota . Checkoff dollars are utilized strictly for promotion, education or research programs. Fifty cents of every dollar is directed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for programs on the national level. The SDBIC retains up to 50 cents, investing it in additional national or in-state programs.
        The SDBIC is comprised of three representatives from eight agricultural organizations: SD Beef Breeds Council, SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, SD CattleWomen, SD Farm Bureau Federation, SD Farmers Union, SD Livestock Market Association, and SD Stockgrowers Association.