California CattleWomen Beef Ambassador contest information.

Trail Guide

Siskiyou County native selected as the
2009 California Beef Ambassador

Photo of Jessica Sampson	Jessica Sampson, a native of northern California and a senior at Yreka High School took home first place honors in the senior division. She is active in her high school FFA chapter, livestock judging and exhibiting market steers and market lambs throughout California. Sampson plans to attend University of California, Davis this fall, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business.
As the winner of the senior division of the California Beef Ambassador Contest, Sampson will be competing in the National Beef Ambassador contest to be held in October in Oklahoma City, Okla. The top five contestants in the national competition become part of the National Beef Ambassador Team and will travel throughout the country in late 2008 and 2009 promoting beef and the beef industry.

Liz Hurd, a senior at Arroyo Grande High School was recognized as runner-up in the contest. Hurd is active in her local 4-H club and FFA chapter. She plans to attend California State University, Chico in the fall, majoring in agriculture business.

Photo of winners from Beef Ambassador contest

Sampson received a $400 cash prize sponsored by the California Beef Council and Hurd was awarded $300.

Other contestants in the 2008-09 California Beef Ambassador Contest senior division were Rochelle Borror, Tehama County; Matthew Bowen, Kern County; Sara Dabovich, Shasta County; and Victoria Mena, Napa/Solano County.
Jullian Van Tassel, a junior at Escalon High School was the winner of the junior division. She has worked on her grandparents’ commercial cattle operation, is very active in FFA and has exhibited steers at her county fair. Kiena Sanders, a sophomore at Lassen Union High School, who is also active in FFA and exhibits livestock at numerous fairs, received runner-up honors in the junior division. Van Tassel was awarded $200 for taking home first place honors and Sanders received $100 for runner-up in the junior division.
Amber Anderson, Shasta County; Maddison Easley, Placer/Nevada County; and Jaylene Scott, Siskiyou County also competed in the junior division contest.

At the conclusion of the competition, contestants enjoyed a lunch at Five Star Land & Livestock in Wilton, Calif. and took part in a media training conducted by Christie Van Egmond, program development coordinator for the California Beef Council. The CBC cosponsored the contest and provided the cash prizes for the winners.
CCW Coordinator for this year’s California Beef Ambassador Contest was Barbara Cowley of Montague, Calif. Judges were Noelle G. Cremers, director of natural resources and commodities for the California Farm Bureau Federation; Stevie Ipsen, director of public relations and outreach for the California Cattlemen’s Association; and Cliff Stokes, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Holly Foster, associate editor with Drover’s Journal served as a judge for the Issues Response portion of the contest and Tracy Sellers, reporter for the television show “California Country” interviewed the contestants for the Media Interview segment of the competition.
-Photos and article by Christie Van Egmond
California Beef Council
4640 Northgate Blvd., Suite 115
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 925-BEEF (2333) Phone

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

California Beef Council
5726 Sonoma Drive.,
Suite A
Pleasanton, CA 94566-7751
925-484-2333

While preparing for this national speaking 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, consumers and producers about food safety, nutrition and the beef checkoff program. Please visit the National Beef Ambassador web site for full details.

Contestants participating in the National Beef Ambassador Competition presented a speech about the promotional aspects of beef, completed interviews with media and beef-industry representatives and attended a checkoff-funded educational workshop titled “Telling the Production Story.” The workshop was sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program.

The California Beef Council (CBC) was established in 1954 to serve as the promotion, research, and education arm of the California beef industry, and is mandated by the California Food and Agricultural Code. The council is comprised of 42 members, who are appointed by the California Secretary of Agriculture. The council members set priorities for CBC and represent all segments of beef production within California including range cattle, dairy cattle, feedlots, packers/processors and the general public. For more information, visit www.calbeef.org.

In 1985, a national Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic 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 (CBB), which oversees the national Beef Checkoff Program. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef. The CBB’s 104 members are appointed by and held accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Board members represent all segments of the beef industry, including beef, veal and dairy producers, and importers. For more information, visit www.beefboard.org.

The 2008 National Beef Ambassadors at American National CattleWomen convention in Reno, Nevada Feb. 6, 2008. back row: Michelle Wiggley CA, Caitlin Williams AZ, front row Beth Wood WY, Leticia Varelas NM, and Jennifer Rassler PA.

To see contest winners from 2007-08, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2006-07, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2005-06, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2004-05, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2003-04, please click here.

To see contest winners from 2002-03, please click here.

The purpose of the National Beef Ambassador Program is to train youth spokespersons ages 16-19 for promotion of beef and the beef industry. Through preparation for the competition, contestants gain knowledge about the beef industry and the importance of beef as an agricultural product, focusing on the positive impact of the beef cattle industry on our economy, our environment, and on our families as producers and consumers.

	*Beef Ambassadors*