Prime Promoters of Beef Honored at SDBIC Annual Meeting

PIERRE (October 20, 2003)—A restaurant owner in Vetal, a supper club manager from Hamill, and a Sioux Falls’ meat market were honored recently as Prime Promoters by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) during their annual meeting.
    Each year, the SDBIC selects individuals and businesses who do an outstanding job promoting beef in South Dakota. This year’s winners are: Paulette Fanning, owner of R-Bar in Vetal, S.D.; Roger Engel, supper club manager at the VFW in Winner and caterer of beef for private and charity functions; and Looks Meat Market, one of the longest operating businesses in the state located on Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls.

Paulette Fanning, owner of the R Bar in Vetal, S.D.
	Paulette Fanning (left), owner of the R Bar in Vetal, S.D., receives the SDBIC 2003 Prime Promoter award from Lonna Johnson, a member of the Stateline Cattlewomen.

    Fanning is a prime example of how you can move and promote beef in a small town. For more than five years she has owned and operated the R Bar in Bennett County.
    With a menu of burgers, steak strips, rocky mountain oysters and a sirloin steak dinner, the R Bar supplies Vetal and the surrounding area with beef meals.
    Fanning utilizes beef signage in her establishment and accepts Beef Certificates and/or Beef Bucks. She frequently holds steak suppers and supplies burgers for the Vetal Fun Day in the fall. She has hosted meetings for various cattle organizations, supporting their programs in an effort to promote beef and gain members.
    She and her husband are supporters of the Bennett County 4-H Beef Project, either purchasing a 4-H market steer or feeder calf each year. They also sponsor the 4-H Supreme Champion Beef Award.

Roger Engel, Hamill, S.D.
	Immediate Past SDBIC President Jim Beastrom congratulates Roger Engel, one of three Prime Promoter recipients for 2003

    If you live in the Winner, S.D., area, no doubt you’ve tasted beef prepared by this South Dakota Prime Promoter. Besides being a farmer and rancher, Engel is supper club manager at the VFW in Winner, cooking for the establishment three nights a week.
    Diners enjoy his rib eyes, sirloin, tenderloin and hamburger steaks. But his specialty is the Prime Rib, which his customers say, "is the best."
    In addition to his job at the VFW, Engel made his own outdoor grill and serves private parties and helps with food for various functions, often donating his time and grilling talents.
    For several years he has grilled hamburgers and all-beef hot dogs at the Elks Rodeo – for no charge. He has grilled hamburgers for the Southern Belle CattleWomen "Relay for Life" cancer fundraiser in Winner.
    He donates his time cooking beef for the Tripp County 4-H Rodeo volunteers and provides roast beef cooked, sliced and ready to serve for the Winner Quarterback Club Wrestling Tourney each year. It’s one of the largest high school wrestling tourneys in the state and some spectators say they come to the tourney just to eat from one of the best lunch stands around.
    For the past two years he cooked the beef for the Winner High School Prom banquet – also at no charge. Purchasing his beef from Mid-Dakota Meat in Winner or Skylark in Yankton, he cooks roasts and slices them ready to serve for many private parties and family gatherings. He’ll serve from 50 to 250. He’s also catered for the Holiday Inn Express in Winner.
    In 2002, he prepared 2,500 pounds of roasts. This past year, from June to June, he used 11,850 pounds of beef.

Look’s Meat Market, Sioux Falls, S.D.
	Immediate Past SDBIC President Jim Beastrom congratulates Bruce Eide, owner of Look’s Meat Market in Sioux Falls. Look’s was selected as the Prime Promoter business recipient for 2003.

    The business being honored as this year’s Prime Promoter is also celebrating 120 years serving customers in South Dakota. This small meat market provides the Sioux Falls’ area with some of the best retail beef available.
    Look’s has built a reputation for high quality beef. It is owned by Bruce Eide and managed by Mike Haggar. The staff searches for the best beef product available and then focuses on customer service.
    This small business has faced the challenges presented by larger supermarkets, but continues to grow its customer base because of its beef’s quality and service. The Look’s staff is ready and able to provide advice on cuts or cooking, helping make their customers’ beef experience a positive one.
    Even though the store may be small in size, it does an impressive volume of business. During Christmas week last year they sold 3,500 pounds of rolled rib roast. During all of 2002 the store sold 96,000 pounds of U.S. beef.
    The store has been federally inspected for over two years.
    In addition, Look’s has held beef promotions. One of the most recent was last December when South Dakota Beef Bucks and Col. Jon Phillips of Waitt Farm Network came and broadcast from the store.
    The business uses South Dakota Beef Industry Council recipes, has the Beef Recipe Collection books for sale and redeems many Beef Bucks and Beef Certificates.
    The SDBIC’s Prime Promoter Committee takes nominations each year for the Prime Promoter Award. The committee is comprised of one member from each of the eight participating organizations in the SDBIC. Those organizations 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.