Inman Joins Beefmobile for the Project’s Fifth Year

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- The Beefmobiles, vans emblazoned with visions of juicy steaks and burgers, embarked on the project’s fifth tour of the United States this January with the mission of delivering information to beef and dairy producers about how their beef checkoff dollars are being used.

Created to provide information about beef and the checkoff’s $1-per-head assessment to producers and consumers, the Beefmobile program has made almost 600 stops since its first stop in January 2004. In 2008, the three Beefmobiles and their “Wranglers” will make 200 stops to include livestock auction markets, country music festivals, and rodeos across the country. At each location, the Beefmobiles and their Wranglers provide information – and solicit input – from cattlemen about the Beef Checkoff Program.

Jodee Inman of Bloomington, Ind., joins returning Beefmobile team members Tracey Orsburn of Harrison, Neb., and Stacy Loutzenhiser of Flagler, Colo., as a new wrangler. 

Inman has worked in the cattle industry as a producer and staff for several marketing establishments throughout her high school and college career, as well as an auctioneer for eight years. She served as a liaison between auctioneers and cattle buyers at Owen-Monroe Feeder Auction Association in Spencer, Ind., White River Valley Feeder Auction Association in Worthington, Ind., and for United Producers, Inc. at their Scottsburg and Vincennes, Ind., markets. Inman has a management degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.; and she is also a graduate of the Missouri Auction School in St. Joseph, Mo.

“The success of the Beefmobile is due in large part to the quality of the Wranglers we’ve been able to attract. It takes a special person to be a Wrangler. They must have a deep passion for the beef industry and have the unique ability to communicate to beef producers,” says Scott Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer of NLPA. “Beef producers are busy and it is hard for them to fully inform themselves about the Beef Checkoff.  So, when the Beefmobile and Wranglers go to them and provide the information in a one-on-one basis, they appreciate the opportunity to learn about checkoff programs and have someone to answer their questions and address their concerns.”

Inman said her interest in the Beefmobile project was sparked during its inaugural run in 2004. 

“It’s a great opportunity as a representative from the Midwest to experience the vastness of the producers and operations throughout the country and to be able to act as a voice for them when it comes to their input, feedback and questions about the Checkoff,” Inman said. “The Checkoff is an integral part of the industry and I’m honored to be a link in the chain of communication between the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and producers.”

New additions to the Beefmobile project this year include a checkoff trivia wheel, Proud Beef Producer campaign, “talking” boxes featuring beef checkoff information, and heat-and-serve beef samples. The Beefmobile has already made several stops in Louisiana, Alabama, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., South Dakota, Mississippi, Kentucky and Indiana in January and February.

“The highlight of this project continues to be learning how many dedicated people there are in the beef industry and having a chance to work with them as well as visiting with beef producers about the beef checkoff on a day-to-day basis,” Orsburn said. “This program helps address the misinformation out in the country in regard to the true purpose of the checkoff and the role it plays in the promotion and research that would be missing without it.”

The Beefmobile program is coordinated on behalf of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board by the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA), which is one of the Beef Board’s contractors for beef checkoff-funded programs. For more information about the Beefmobile visit www.beefmobile.com.

The National Livestock Producers Association, founded in 1921, is an organization of livestock marketing cooperatives and credit corporations representing more than 200,000 livestock producers nationwide.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

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