Beef Council Backs Heart Healthy Speaker
PIERRE (May 1, 2007)--When an internationally known speaker addressed medical professionals about the importance of exercise at a recent cardiopulmonary rehabilitation conference in Sioux Falls, the audience came to attention. That was good news to the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC).

            The SDBIC sponsored Steven Blair, a professor with the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, in a unique partnership that brings healthy living habits and the healthy nutritional aspects of beef together.

            Blair, who had just flown in from Helsinki, Finland, was part of the two-day TriNetwork conference geared to registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and exercise physiologists from Nebraska, Iowa and North and South Dakota.

            “Blair was outstanding,” said Mike Dunlap, coordinator of cardiac rehabilitation at Sanford USD Medical Center and co-coordinator of the conference. “He’s a well-respected researcher in the field of exercise and health promotion. We had people come in specifically to hear his presentation.”

             The SDBIC has been sponsoring a speaker at the conference for several years. “It’s a win-win situation,” said Dunlap. “The Beef Council is willing to provide helpful and truthful educational material and we’re happy to provide that to our clients.” It’s an important way, he said, to dispel misinformation that states people with heart disease should not eat meat. “We know that’s not true,” says Dunlap. “It’s learning to eat the appropriate types and amounts of meat.”

            Barry Jennings, in-coming executive director of SDBIC, attended the conference,  and was impressed with Blair, as well. “It was an honor for the Beef Council to support someone with his academic background and credentials,” says Jennings. “He was very well received by the conference.”

            As Jennings prepares for the role of SDBIC executive director come July 1, he said he understands that this type of partnership is an excellent use of checkoff dollars. “It’s very important that we continue to establish and nurture relationships with the health and medical industry,” said Jennings. “We want to reinforce the fact that beef plays a very important nutritional role in the overall spectrum of a well-balanced diet.”

The SDBIC collects and administers the $1 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 50 cents, which is invested in additional national programs 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 Auction Market Association, and SD Stockgrowers Associan.