The annual Beef Backer awards were presented at this year’s convention by then Vice Chairman, Dave Bateman (now The Chairman) along with representatives of the various state beef councils that nominated them. The Beef Backer Award recognizes chain and independent restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing beef.
The Checkoff also announced the winners of the first annual national Retail Beef Backer Awards program. Retail Beef Backer Award winners are selected based on their excellent merchandising of beef at the meat case. A third-party judging panel also took into consideration the retailers’ tie-ins with beef checkoff-funded programs such as Easy Fresh Cooking labels, Beef Training Camp, Summer Grilling promotions, the Beef Value Cuts program and on-pack nutrition labeling. Applicants are also judged on retailer-originated beef promotions that focus on increasing beef demand among their customers. Such programs include outstanding beef promotions, co-marketing promotions and customer education programs.
The first Beef Backer award presented went to Cherry Valley Country Club, a non-commercial establishment. They won the “Independent of the Year” award by offering their patrons quality beef in a variety of applications across all menu day parts. Their exceptional commitment to serving “the best” has kept club members happy. Michael Giletto, executive chef of Cherry Valley Country Club, says, “As chefs, we look for the best ingredients to create the menus we design. I’ve found the best quality beef allows me to satisfy any diverse palate.”
Giletto’s commitment this year was not only to continue to put beef on the menu, but to promote beef to the general public, purveyors, club patrons and fellow chefs. Giletto participated in a television show called, “The Digital Cookbook,” demonstrating how to prepare exceptional beef recipes in realistic time. He also shared cooking videos with a children’s TV show to help spark kids’ interest in cooking with beef.
You can listen to Giletto’s remarks here: cic-08-giletto.mp3
If you’d like to see all the winners and hear from them then go to the post I put on Beef Board Meeting.com.
You know it would take a big bank account to write a check for a new John Deere combine and not too many farmers can do that. So to help them out they’ve got 
Here’s a wrap-up report on World Ag Expo from Gary Schulz. Maybe next year will be the year I get to go. I’ve got to go out there in a couple weeks but just couldn’t get that coordinated to coincide with the Show. Thank you very much Gary for taking the time to provide us with your updates. A lot of AgWired readers were there or are involved with the show in one way or another so it’s been great.
This was today’s sunset on the way home from the National Farm Machinery Show. 
The media world sure is changing these days. Here’s Greg Lamp doing 
I tried to shoot a video clip of these tractors last night but my little point and shoot just couldn’t handle the noise I guess since it kept shutting off when they got close. But Leah Guffey, WFMB, save the day with her camera and provided me with a clip I can use.
I couldn’t resist taking this picture here in the media room which is a lot busier today. Here’s a couple of 
Leah Guffey, WFMB, would like to hop on this Harley and drive it home. We were in the FMC farmer reception yesterday. The Harley is part of a contest the company is running. Our good friends Sally Behringer and Paul Redhage were on hand and so was Tyler Tuttle, FMC Retail Marketing Manager who I spoke with about their announcement for Authority Assist.
While I’m on the subject of World Ag Expo I’ve got another report from Bill Baker,