Promoting Beef Brings Accolades    

PIERRE (September 27, 2005)—South Dakotans who do their best to move more beef product in this cattle-rich state were recently honored as 2005 Prime Promoters by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC). An individual, organization and business were presented with a custom-made plaque for their extraordinary efforts.

            Each year the SDBIC selects those who do an outstanding job promoting beef and/or the beef industry. The honor was awarded during a luncheon during the organization’s annual meeting in Brookings September 24. Honored this year were Aberdeen Livestock Sales Company, the Chamberlain Chapter of Kiwanis, and David King of Platte .  

Aberdeen Livestock Sales Company
	SDBIC Immediate Past President Nancy Montross (right) congratulates Aberdeen Livestock Co. owners (left to right) Kevin Larson, Jim Peterson, and Brent Larson upon being named 2005 Prime Promoter.

            Aberdeen Livestock Sales Company, owned by Kevin and Brent Larson and Jim Peterson, were recognized for their creative use of South Dakota Beef Bucks, a check that can be utilized to purchase beef at retail grocers or restaurants. Since September 2002, Aberdeen Livestock Sales Company has purchased more than $65,000-worth of the checks to distribute as customer appreciation gifts, prizes, donations for different causes and to have on hand for the general public to purchase.

This company has also distributed some 300 “Beef It’s What’s for Dinner®” bumper stickers and was one of the first livestock auction barns to host the national Beefmobile in South Dakota . The Beefmobile is a van that brings the beef checkoff message to auction barns across the country.

Chamberlain Chapter of Kiwanis
	Mick Niles , past president of the Chamberlain Kiwanis Chapter, receives the 2005 Prime Promoter Award from Nancy Montross, SDBIC immediate past president.

In Chamberlain, the Kiwanis Club’s annual beef dinner in February has become a tradition. This popular fundraiser serves beef each year to approximately 350 persons. More than 5,250 pounds of beef purchased from a local retailer have been served since the event began in the 1970s. Leonard Andera, head cook, receives high praise each year for the excellent beef the Kiwanis Club serves.

            In addition to the beef dinner, the Chamberlain Kiwanis Club often invites speakers from the beef industry to address its members and guests during an annual “Ag Day” luncheon.

David King
	David King of Platte , S.D. receives the 2005 Prime Promoter Award from SDBIC Immediate Past President Nancy Montross.

            Around Platte , S.D. , David King is “King” of beef. This meat manager at the Platte Food Center has increased beef marketing during his 18-year-tenure, and now supplies beef to six steak houses, three restaurants and the Platte hospital. In the last year alone, King has sold more than 270,000 pounds of beef. Ninety percent of his meat sales are beef. King also has a private catering service, serving approximately 36,000 beef meals in the last year to a variety of individuals and organizations in the area.

            Nominations for the Prime Promoter Award are sent each year from the eight organizations comprising the SDBIC, with the organization’s Prime Promoter Committee making 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 each 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 educational programs.