Checkoff takes to the road
By Drovers news source  |  Thursday, December 22, 2005

After visiting roughly 100 venues on behalf of the beef checkoff in 2005, the Beefmobile program has scheduled more than double that number in 2006. At each location, the Beefmobile and its “Wranglers” reach out to producers throughout the country to provide information – and solicit input – about the Beef Checkoff Program.

To double the coverage in 2006, the Beefmobile project will run two vans instead of one, with two additional “Wranglers” – goodwill ambassadors who carry the word to those paying the $1-per-head assessment about what the checkoff does, how it works, who makes decisions about the programs, and the results of those programs.  Joining the team as Wranglers for the coming year are Stacy Loutzenhiser of Flagler, Colo., and Holly Branecky, from Boerne, Texas. Continuing for a second year as a Wrangler in 2006 is Tracey Orsburn, originally from Central Nebraska.

Created in 2004 to provide information about beef and the beef checkoff to producers and consumers, 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. 

Orsburn traveled more than 60,000 miles with the Beefmobile during 2005, and said she came through the process “still smiling.”

“This experience has allowed me to combine two of my passions – teaching and agriculture,” said Orsburn, who has a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  “It’s gratifying to be able to convey important information about what the checkoff does, as well as carry back information to checkoff officials on what producers think about it.”

According to Orsburn, who has been with the Beefmobile since the program’s second year, the effort provides producers with an opportunity to “have a voice in the checkoff,” regardless of their position on the program.  “Everything said about the checkoff is put in a daily report that we provide back to the Beef Board,” she said.   

“Our goal is to have the one-to-one contact with producers that isn’t possible with many other communications strategies,” according to Orsburn.  “The Beefmobile is an extension of the producer communications program – and it will be even better in 2006 when we will have a true ‘team’ approach to the effort.”

Loutzenhiser and Branecky have been busy since October getting training at the Beef Board offices in Centennial, Colo., and at the NLPA headquarters in Colorado Springs. 

According to Loutzenhiser, it’s been a hectic few months. “I just graduated Dec. 16 from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural business, so it’s been difficult trying to juggle the end of school with all of the new responsibilities,” he said.

Loutzenhiser, who was the Colorado state FFA president in 2002, said he’s excited about the new challenge. “I really enjoy promoting things I believe in,” he said. “The beef industry is very near and dear to my heart. I’m glad things fell into place with this opportunity to work for the Beef Checkoff Program.”

Holly Branecky says her outgoing personality and tenacity will help her in her Wrangler efforts. “I look forward to visiting with producers and hearing their concerns,” she said.  “I know I’ll have fun while I’m at it.”

Branecky also is a recent college graduate, having received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University on Dec. 17.  She said she will work hard to answer any questions she gets, and wants producers to know that team members are working on their behalf while traveling throughout the country.

“I’ve known since high school that this is the kind of thing I wanted to do,” said Branecky, who served as a Beef Ambassador in Texas in 2000. “It’s really exciting to be working together as a team in this effort.”

Among the first trips for the team will be to the Arizona National Livestock Show in late December, and the National Western Stock Show in Denver and American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Tennessee in January. 

Orsburn said they will attempt to make every event “bigger and better” in 2006, working to get larger crowds and reach even more producers.  Among their goals will be to hit as many major producer meetings as possible, in addition to their regular trips to livestock auctions and other locations where producers gather.

 For more information about the Beefmobile, go to www.beefmobile.com, or to schedule a stop, please contact Scharee Atchison in the NLPA office at 800-237-7193, or slatchison@nlpa.org.

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