2009 National Beef Ambassador Team Announced
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For more information, contact Carol Abrahamzon at (507) 724-3905, cabrahamzon@beef.org or Melissa Slagle at (303) 867-6306, mslagle@beefboard.org.
Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Jessica Sampson, Gazelle, Calif., Sierra Simpson, Kremlin, Okla., Sharon Byrne, Nottingham, Pa., Allison Grainger, Brenham, Texas and Bradley Copenhaver, Blackburg, Va., were chosen as the 2009 National Beef Ambassador Team winners at the annual competition, held Oct. 9-11 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The competition was established on behalf of cattle producers in 1988 and is funded by the beef checkoff.
Twenty contestants from throughout the country vied for a place on this elite team of agriculture advocates and $5,000 in cash prizes sponsored exclusively by Tyson Foods, Inc. Additionally, five educational scholarships totaling $3,750 were given by the American National CattleWomen Foundation, Inc.
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Jessica Sampson, a freshman at UC Davis, majors in Animal Science and Management, is President of her FFA Chapter and enjoys exhibiting steers. Sierra Simpson started showing heifers at four years of age and plans to attend Oklahoma State University next year. A sophomore at Pennsylvania State University, Sharon Byrne grew up on an Angus farm. Active in showing cattle, Byrne enjoys theatre and spending time with her family. Allison Grainger is a fourth-generation cattle producer who has developed a deep appreciation for the beef industry. Grainger, who will be attending Texas A&M next fall, enjoys listening to public speaking and theatre. A freshman at Virginia Tech, Bradley Copenhaver is studying Agriculture and Applied Economics. Copenhaver grew up on a beef farm, is an active member of 4-H, loves to play golf, keep up with politics and cheer for the Virginia Tech Hokies.While preparing for this national beef promotion and education competition, youth learn about the importance of the beef industry and beef as an agricultural product. The program highlights the positive impact the cattle industry has on our economy and families. Trained youth ambassadors address industry issues and misconceptions, while they help educate peers and consumers about food safety, nutrition and the Beef Checkoff Program.
Contestants participating in the National Beef Ambassador Competition were judged in the areas of consumer promotion, classroom presentation, media interview and issues response. Each contestant was trained through the checkoff-funded education workshop titled “Telling the Beef Production Story.”
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Ark, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein- based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(TM)" strategy.
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.
Funded by the Beef Checkoff.