Kentucky Beef Council

What comes to your mind when you think about November? For most, people associate it with Thanksgiving. Growing up on my family’s cattle farm in Barren County, I think about fall calves running around, enjoying a good football game with a bowl of chili, and even getting those last few steaks grilled outside. No matter what you think of when it comes to November, the Kentucky Beef Council is focused on beef, and we have been busy sharing the beef word! One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to go out and share the beef message with so many individuals. I enjoyed a great day at Spencer County’s AG Day where elementary schoolers went to various booths to talk about all thing’s agriculture. At the KBC station, students were able to learn more about the various products that we get from our cattle, including steak, cheeseburgers, footballs, and more! Each kid was able to “rock” their very own set of “Beef It’s What’s For Dinner” cow ears. A few weeks later I was able to speak at the Meade County Cattlemen’s Meeting. I was impressed by their dedication for youth involvement and community education for the beef industry. We were able to go over what educational programing we have available for our next generation of beef advocates, including our KCA Convention in January, Beef Signing Day in June, Youth Leadership Program in August, and the YARDS Classroom Field Trips to name a few. I have a heavy background in Agricultural Education, which has allowed me to form connections with many of our Agriculture Teachers in the state. Most of our AG Teachers feel comfortable teaching some of the beef basics; steers vs. heifers, breeds, feedstuffs, etc. but when it comes to beef cuts, they tend to get a little nervous. I have been able to go to several of our Agriculture Classrooms to demonstrate a basic way to prepare a steak. During our time together, we also go over the various types of beef cuts, what makes a cut more tender than another, as well as cooking temperatures. The Kentucky Beef Council definitely turns into a teacher favorite after we give out the samples to the students in class, plus a few of the administrators. Groups at the YARDS Classroom are rolling in! I have been able to host groups from across the country as they head towards Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA Convention and Expo. Groups are able to learn a little bit more about what the beef industry looks like here in Kentucky, being the biggest cattle producing state east of the Mississippi (I really enjoy telling other states on the eastern side that). We have also invested into a new model that demonstrates the various beef cuts and how we get them from primal cuts to the retail cuts we enjoy the most. This has been a super tool for teachers, students, and consumers to have more insight on their various beef cuts. Be sure to book a YARDS Group with your school group, adult leadership group, or business group! We can get you scheduled by emailing me at bburks@kycattle.org No matter what comes to your mind during November, the word “Thankful” sums a lot of it up; let’s always remind ourselves how thankful we are for this industry. Although we have ups and downs, I cannot think of a better industry with better people. To the Kentucky Beef Producer, thank you for the opportunity to share the beef message with many across the state. I’m excited to continue sharing what we do in the industry to those who aren’t as familiar with it.