AgWired

I guess it’s just a beef kind of day here on AgWired. I did have a little drive to Indianapolis thrown into the mix. I’ll be here for meetings tomorrow morning before returning home. Hence the light posting. I did get an announcement from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board about the Beefmobiles gearing up to hit the road again. These folks travel like an agriblogger and they’re invited to write to me on their travels. I’ll post them here. And btw, I had a steak for supper tonight, thank you very much.

After traveling more than 200,000 miles in three years, the beef checkoff’s “Beefmobiles” are ready to log a few more miles, kicking off the fourth year with a mission to visit more than 250 livestock marketing facilities and other beef-related events. At each location, the Beefmobiles and their “Wranglers” provide information – and solicit input – from cattlemen about the Beef Checkoff Program.

During the current year, the Beefmobile is funded with a total of $350,000 in checkoff revenue – $280,000 from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and $70,000 from the Federation of State Beef Councils. The Federation added another $15,000 to conduct 10 stops at consumer events, where requested by state beef councils.

As you may know we built a blog for the Missouri Beef Industry Council. I am happy to see the staff starting to use it to write about the activities they’re involved in. Like today when Alane Lidolph did a post about Chef Richard Chamberlain’s visit to St. Louis. And right before her Dawn Thurnau did a post about a Chef’s Chili Challenge they helped sponsor in Columbia, MO. Good stuff!

From Alane’s post that used this picture:

Nationally renowned chef and co-author of the Healthy Beef Cookbook, Richard Chamberlain, recently traveled the St. Louis area, teaching consumers how to prepare healthy and delicious lean beef recipes. Cooking schools were held at area Dierberg’s grocery store School of Cooking locations, where four recipes from the Healthy Beef Cookbook were featured. All of the recipes utilized one of the 29 cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean and showcased how great flavor and nutrition come together to create tender, moist, and flavorful beef dishes. Each participant received a copy of the Healthy Beef Cookbook, Chef Chamberlain’s famous steak seasoning, and of course tasting was part of the fun!

From Dawn’s post:

We were pleased with the turn out to the Chef’s Chili Challenge. 14 teams competed with their favorite chili recipes- all to raise money for the Central Missouri Food Bank.

Here’s the winners; People’s Choice Winner was tied between Carrie Bremer and Stephen’s College. Best Professional Chili went to Boone Tavern. Steve Henderson, representing the Downtown Optimist Club, won best beef chili, while the Forge in downtown won the best pork chili award. The Spiciest- with Style honors went to Johnny’s Beanery and the best chili side dish went to Ramona Anderson with her smore’s brownies.

This is a very nice personal way to communicate with beef producers who support the checkoff funded organization.