Prime Promoters to Be Honored at Beef Council Annual Meeting

 PIERRE (September 12, 2007)—The 2007 Prime Promoters of Beef will be recognized during the annual meeting and Prime Promoter Luncheon of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) Saturday, September 22.
            Each year, the SDBIC honors businesses, individuals and/or organizations which do an exemplary job of promoting beef and the beef industry. The event is held on the South Dakota State University (SDSU) campus as part of the SDSU Beef Bowl activities. This year, award winners are SDSU researcher Dr. Robbi Pritchard, and Beef Products, Inc. owner Eldon Roth (individuals), Cabaret Steakhouse and Lounge, Carthage (business), and the Mobridge Beef and Fun Committee (organization).
           During the annual meeting, SDBIC will elect new officers, including president, vice president and treasurer, in addition to two directors to the Federation of State Beef Councils.
            The SDBIC board of directors will also approve a 2008 budget. This year’s budget, which determines how the state’s beef checkoff dollars will be spent, will be tailored to reflect results from a strategic planning session in August, says SDBIC Executive Director Barry Jennings. He explains that four priority areas evolved from that session: beef nutrition message to consumers; issues management (responding to beef-related issues that can develop, such as a possible case of foot and mouth disease, BSE, or the worldwide cancer report to be released this fall); investment in national checkoff programs; and establishing relationships with nutrition influencers (people in the health community).
            The annual meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the SDSU Student Union, followed by the Prime Promoter luncheon at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. if necessary. The SDBIC Research Committee will meet Friday afternoon to review current checkoff-funded research projects at SDSU, as well as consider proposed research projects. The Nominations Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Saturday, prior to the annual meeting. The business meetings are open to beef producers. The Beef Bowl activities include a 4:30 p.m. Beef Bowl Barbecue and a 7 p.m. SDSU Jacks vs. Texas State football game at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium. For more information, contact the SDBIC office at 605-224-4722.
            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 Association.