Statement of Beliefs

Adopted by the Federation of State Beef Councils
at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference

July 17, 2009
Denver, Colo.

"We believe in the success of a strong state and national partnership resulting
in increased consumer demand for beef and higher consumer confidence."
 
"We believe in producer control of checkoff funds through the Qualified
State Beef Councils, which are the foundation of the beef checkoff."
 
"We believe in the industry long range plan as a guidepost for the beef checkoff
and the fundamental principle of the “one vision-one plan-one voice.”

The Federation of State Beef Councils, whose board members are comprised largely of beef producers who represent the 45 Qualified State Beef Councils that collect the $1 beef checkoff, approved this statement during a standing-room-only forum at the cattle industry summer conference here yesterday. 
 
Through the Federation, states reinvest a portion of their 50-cent checkoff share back into the national checkoff budget to extend national programs at the grassroots level, effectively reuniting the checkoff $1. 
 
“This statement forms the basis for how and why we work together, even while we also realize that beef producers across the country have individual interests and needs. This statement reminds us of our common purpose and focus,” said J.D. Alexander, a Nebraska cattleman and chairman of the Federation. 
 
Beef producers, as well as state beef council staff representing 30 of the 45 state beef councils attended the Thursday meeting.
 
In other business, Federation vice chair Scott George, a Wyoming dairyman, reported on the Federation Initiative Fund, which to date has awarded $1.5 million in grants to promote beef in states with high human populations but low cattle numbers. The Initiative Fund is supported through voluntary state beef council investments, totaling some $800,000 in the past four years. Ninety-six funded projects have reached consumers, health influencers, nutritional professionals, beef producers, educators and other audiences in densely populated states such as Florida, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.
 
The forum also featured guest speaker Jeff Beringer, an interactive media expert with the public relations firm GolanHarris. Beringer talked about the impact of social media tactics, such as Face book, Twitter and other online tools, in influencing public opinion and consumer trust.