Jo Ann Smith is one of my favorite people. Boy does seeing this picture make me miss Florida. Jo Ann was the first Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board back in 1986. It’s been twenty years. My how time flies when you’re eating beef. The CBB is a client for ZimmComm as I think most of you know. The Beef Checkoff holds a very special place in Cindy and my hearts because of that and because back when we were partnered with Gary Cooper in our first business venture the Florida Beef Council was one of our first clients. Florida had one of the highest approval ratings for the original Checkoff referendums in the country.
The CBB just sent out a great multi-media kit (CD) which is why I’m posting this. It’s the 20th anniversary and there’s some great stuff on here. I’ll be sharing it with you over time. Now back to Jo Ann. The CD came with some sound bites that you might want to hear. If you listen close you’ll hear the crickets and cows in the background. I’m assuming the interview was taped in Wacahoota. Ever been there?
Before the beef checkoff got off the ground 20 years ago, leaders were doing their homework on the ingredients needed for a successful checkoff program. Jo Ann Smith, who served as first chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board from 1986 to 1988, says a lot of valuable research came from other commodity programs. 
Jo Ann Smith Cut 1 (MP3)
Producers had specific requirements on how they wanted their checkoff to operate. Jo Ann Smith Cut 2 (MP3)
Smith says producers also had expectations about the efforts their money would buy. Jo Ann Smith Cut 3 (MP3)
The beef checkoff earns a passing grade over the years in Smith’s book. Jo Ann Smith Cut 4 (MP3)
Smith’s son, Marty, now operates the family’s cattle business in North Central Florida.