Kentucky Beef Council

Katelyn Hawkins Director of Product Marketing, Kentucky Beef Council

Healthy Herds, Farm Families, and Tasty Traditions. These three pillars of Kentucky’s beef industry were the focus of Kentucky Beef Council’s 2021 Beef Month campaign highlighting that Beef Starts Here in Kentucky. Throughout May we utilized in-person community events, interviews with media outlets, social and digital advertising as well as promotional giveaways to share with consumers across the Commonwealth the hard work and dedication Kentucky’s farm families have to providing all Kentuckians quality beef.

Beef month kicked off with a proclamation signing at the Capitol in Frankfort with Governor Beshear as well as a proclamation event at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture offices with Commissioner Quarles celebrating Kentucky as the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi River. KBC staff looks forward to beef month proclamation signing each year; however, this year was even more special as it served as the start of a string of in-person events we were unable to attend in the previous year. This year staff attended events at Hinton Mills in Flemingsburg, Blue Grass Lexington, Blue Grass East, Hardin County Plant Day, Casey County Heifer Sale, Shelby County Beef Day, Southern States Beef Day in Paris, and Madison County Beef Day during which we shared summer grilling tips, featured recipes, promotional items and were able to capture free media coverage through radio interviews. While in-person events were popular this year, we were able to reach thousands more through paid and free tv and radio segments and ads. Cooking segments with WBKO in Bowling Green, WAVE 3 in Louisville, LEX 18 and WKYT in Lexington featuring the Grilled Beef, Summer Squash, and Onion Salad, Bourbon Blueberry and Brie Bacon Cheeseburger, and Grilled Steak Charcuterie Board recipes. Through a sponsorship with 98.1 The Bull, positive beef messaging was played at the top and bottom of every hour during beef month highlighting Kentucky’s farm families. Additionally, staff was able to capitalize on numerous free radio spots with stations in Flemingsburg, Shelbyville, Richmond, and Bowling Green promoting beef recipes, resources for information about beef, and our ultimate beef month giveaway featuring summer grilling essentials and a Traeger Grill. You will continue to see beef messaging on your television throughout the summer as we have partnered with Lexington stations ABC 36, WKYT, and LEX 18 to feature farm families and tasty traditions. Starting in May, ABC 36 will do a beef farmer of the month feature showcasing the many faces behind beef in our state. WKYT will feature anchors and farmers showcasing some of their favorite beef recipes during Summer Grillin’ segments that will air Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday thru Labor Day. We are even beefing up the 2021 Summer Olympics with beef advertising on LEX 18 the entire month of July during Olympic coverage. We may have wrapped up our 2021 beef month celebration, but Kentucky’s beef industry should be celebrated every day. As you go about your daily routine, I encourage you to find opportunities to share your beef story with consumers and family members around you. Whether you craft a catchy social media post, correct someone’s misguided statement about beef, or assist someone lost in the meat department at your local grocery store, do not hesitate to share your beef story. The smallest moments can make a big impact.

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Beef Day at Bluegrass Regional Marketplace

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KCA President Chris Cooper and KBC Chairman Joe Lowe accompany Governor Andy Beshear signing the proclamation proclaiming May as Beef Month.

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Madison County Beef Day

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Fleming County Cattlemen’s on-air with radio at the Hinton Mills Flemingsburg Beef Month

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KCA President Chris Cooper and KBC Chairman Joe Lowe with Commissioner Ryan Quarles at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beef Month Proclamation event

Danielle Harmon (Bath Co.) tapes gilling segments with DeAnn Stephens from WKYT