Beef Council Honors Prime Promoters

PIERRE (October 18, 2004)—The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) recently honored four individuals, one business and one organization with the Prime Promoter Award at its annual meeting October 9.
Each year, the SDBIC selects those who do an outstanding job promoting beef and/or the beef industry in South Dakota. This year’s winners included a South Dakota commodity organization, a meat processor, a farm broadcaster, two women who teamed together to create an educational kit and a Rapid City business man. The 2004 Prime Promoters are:

South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC)
SDCUC was recognized for its many contributions to the state’s beef industry, including financial support research projects at South Dakota State University; its dry distillers grain give-away to ranchers impacted by drought; and funds to support development of the Huron beef packing plant. CDCUC was also cited for its efforts to shore up consumer confidence in beef during the BSE incident last winter with a radio advertising program touting the safety of beef and the give away of $6,000 worth of South Dakota Beef Bucks.

Mark Namminga, chairman of the SD Corn Utilization Council Research Committee, and Brad Bonhorst, SDCUC president, receive the Prime Promoter Award from SDBIC President Nancy Montross.

Howard Cold Storage, Inc.
The SDBIC honored Howard Cold Storage with the Prime Promoter Award for the efforts last winter in producing 1.35 tons—2,700-pounds—of beef jerky and beef sticks. Their product was then sent by SDBIC to South Dakota National Guard troops serving in

Iraq

. The company’s smoker ran around the clock and the owners, Terry and Donna Klinkhammer, and their five full-time employees put in extra time to meet the deadline, processing packages of American beef for approximately three weeks. Stories of the beef product being delivered to troops found their way into state and national press.

Nancy Montross, SDBIC President, congratulates Terry and Donna Klinkhammer, owners of Howard Cold Storage, Inc., on being recipients of the 2004 Prime Promoter Award.

Col. Jon Phillips
Farm broadcaster Col. Jon Phillips gives daily market reports, interviews and discusses agricultural topics throughout the Midwest for the Waitt Farm Network. He has taken his radio program to beef-related events to help promote the industry and product. This past spring broadcast live from Pizza Ranch restaurants during a special Steak Pizza promotion. He has also broadcast live this past summer for the South Dakota Beef Bucks’ Golf Tournament. During the BSE scare this past winter he used his auctioneering skills to auction off calves for a special fundraiser to help spread the positive message of beef.

Col. Jon Phillips, farm broadcaster, receives the 2004 Prime Promoter Award from SDBIC President Nancy Montross.

Lisa Dorschner and Colette Kessler
Lisa Dorschner, executive director of Ag in the Classroom, and Colette Kessler, public affairs specialist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service, were recognized for their team effort in developing Mother Nature’s Recycling Machines: Cows and Grass Beef Education Kit. The material helps children understand where our food and fiber come from and the process to get beef to our table. The professional quality kit has visual aids and hands-on classroom activities in a kit that supports South Dakota third and fourth grade.

Nancy Montross, SDBIC President (left to right), congratulates Lisa Dorschner and Colette Kessler for being named 2004 Prime Promoters.

Eddie Rypkema
Eddie Rypkema’s family’s Mt. Rushmore Angus Ranch has held an annual bull production sale for years. For the past 13 years, Rypkema has cooked and served approximately 125 pounds of beef brisket sandwiches at the end of the sale. He also uses his brisket smoker to serve beef for special events for friends and family. He also promotes beef through his business, Dodge Town in Rapid City . Rypkema sends out the message to eat beef in his business’ ad campaigns—giving beef certificates away to those who purchase a vehicle.

Milo and Rayedeane Rypkema receive the 2004 Prime Promoter Award on behalf of their son Eddie Rypkema.

   Nominations for the Prime Promoter Award are sent each year from the eight organizations comprising the SDBIC, and the Prime Promoter Committee makes the final selections.
    Organizations represented on the SDBIC are: SD Beef Breeds Council, SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, SD CattleWomen, SD Farm Bureau, SD Farmers Union, SD Livestock Market Association, and SD Stockgrowers Association.
    The SDBIC collects the $1-per-head checkoff in South Dakota , retaining up to 50 cents of the dollar for state projects and forwarding the remaining funds to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board where it is used on national programs. Checkoff monies can only be used for promotion, research or promotional programs.