Fired up to tell beef’s story
If you’re not familiar with the program – first, what back-40-pasture have you been hiding in?! – and second, it’s well past time to get acquainted. Each year, the American National Cattlewomen gather students, ages 17-20, who have earned the privilege to be called their state beef ambassadors, to compete for a spot on the national team. Let me tell you, these young people are EXCITED, PASSIONATE and DRIVEN to share the beef story and represent the cattle industry to consumers across the nation.
It is so exciting to see the new team each year, fresh from their national competition, here in our office. We love following them throughout the year at different cattle industry events and on their social media. We’ve had our fair share of employees and interns who are Beef Ambassador alums, had the chance to see the contest hosted right here in Wooster two years ago, and often send members of the staff to the national competition to help judge it.
This year, we won’t have a delegate on hand to attend the national competition in Springdale, Ark., but we’ll be cheering on the students from the comfort of our homes and ranches. The Sept. 28 competition will be broadcast this Saturday at www.ihigh.com/nbap, followed by live coverage of the awards ceremony that evening.
We’ve seen these young ambassadors in action enough times to know that this will be a show worth watching. Here’s what the American National Cattlewomen had to say about the event:
The media interview portion of the contest will be broadcast between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., EST, Sept. 28, featuring the 34 senior and junior contestants answering questions about the beef industry’s environmental impact, the role red meat plays in a healthy diet, antibiotic and hormone use on farms and ranches and more. The live stream will be hosted by the 2013 National Beef Ambassador Team, who will recount their year of travels across the nation to represent the beef industry and interview contest judges, past ambassadors, current contestants and more.
That evening at 6:45 p.m., viewers can tune back in for the opening of the star-studded Awards Ceremony. American National Cattlewomen President Barbara Jackson, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President
Scott George and Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chairman Weldon Wynn will each share insights, followed by keynote speakers Butch Calhoun, the Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, and Yvonne Thaxton. Winners of the National Beef Ambassador contest will be broadcast live around 9 p.m.
So mark your calendar, set a reminder on your iPhone or write it in the dust on your dashboard – tune in this Saturday, Sept. 28 to the National Beef Ambassador Contest’s LIVE broadcast!
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