Beef Ambassador
Do you have what it takes to represent the beef industry? Do you enjoy speaking publicly about the benefits of beef? Then you are just the person to be the next SLO CattleWomen Beef Ambassador!
The Beef Ambassador contest teaches youth 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, consumers and producers about food safety, nutrition and the beef checkoff program.
This program is essential because today’s youth are bombarded with anti-beef messages that often find their way into schools. Beef Ambassadors located across the nation go into classrooms, daycares, after school programs and attend youth organization activities where they make presentations about their personal experiences with beef and the beef industry, including industry messages on nutrition, animal welfare, environment and other key topics.
The Beef Ambassador contest is conducted on a local, state and national level. Contestants are asked to complete several public speaking and public relations tests, including a mock media interview, a short letter to the editor writing assignment, and a mock consumer promotion demonstration. The national level of competition also includes an education and outreach category. You can visit the National Beef Ambassador website for more information here.
The San Luis Obispo County Beef Ambassador workshop is open to all county youth. There are two divisions: Junior Division ages 14 to 16 years; and Senior Division 17 to 20 years old. Winners in both divisions receive a free trip to represent San Luis Obispo County at the state level and become eligible for even more cash prizes and scholarships. The winner at the state level will go on to represent California at the national level.
For those interested in competing, please email howdy [at] cattlewomen-slo.org to coordinate with our Beef Ambassador committee chair. For preparation tips, check out www.nationalbeefambassador.org. The impromptu questions from the judges are derived from the website www.explorebeef.org , and the website also offers contestants a good source of factual information about the beef industry. Good luck!
From left to right: Beef Ambassador Committee Chair Olivia Wenger with 2013 SLO County Beef Ambassador Kayla Welcher and past National Beef Ambassador Malorie Bankhead celebrate Kayla’s second place finish at the 2013 California Beef Ambassador competition.
Congratulations to SLO CattleWomen’s 2013 Beef Ambassador, Kayla Welcher! Kayla finished second overall in the competition and tied for high individual in the Issues Response portion with a perfect 100-point score!
2012 Beef Ambassador
Emilee Morrison and Branson Medeiros go to state competition at California State University Chico. Brandon Medeiros, SLO County Senior Beef Ambassador, wins 2nd place in state contest!