Results & Highlights By Lauren Pigg, OCA Intern Celebrate the Steak Day
On a picture perfect, record-breaking day at the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Beef Council teamed up with Kroger and the Columbus Clippers to Celebrate the Steak. The weather drew the largest crowd the Ohio State Fair has ever seen, and many fairgoers were able to taste free beef samples during their visit. The Striking Out Hunger with Lean Beef campaign continued this year, with the total meals donated thus far reaching well over 6,800. During the Columbus Clippers season, with every strike out a pitcher throws, the Ohio Beef Council and Kroger each donated one pound of lean beef to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Visitors could get in on the pitching fun as well, with a speed pitch booth set up by the Clippers for the event. Columbus Clippers infielder, Nate Spears, was also in attendance, signing autographs and fielding questions from fans, young and old. Celebrate the Steak Day is not just about free samples and fun games, but the Ohio Beef Council and Beef Checkoff made many connections with consumers throughout the afternoon. Consumers had the opportunity to talk with chefs, beef producers, Beef Council representatives, and people from all walks of the beef industry.
Checkoff Dollars Support Consumer Learning and Fun at the Fair The Ohio Cattlemen’s Country Club opened its doors again this year in the Voinovich Livestock Center, providing hours of entertainment and education for consumers and producers alike. Ohio Beef Council set up the putt-putt course and many displays detailing information about proper cooking techniques, animal care and husbandry, producer communications, the veal industry, and much more. Brochures and handouts, funded by the Beef Checkoff, served as a takehome message for consumers.
38 x Ohio Cattleman x Early Fall Issue 2013
Above: The speed pitch game was a hit at this year’s Celebrate the Steak Day. Left: Free beef samples prepared by Kroger were a hot item on a perfect summer day at the fair. Below: New cattle puzzles were revealed this year in the Voinovich Livestock Center and were popular among the younger visitors.
The Ag is Cool station focused on by-products this year, with Ohio’s fourth graders being the target audience. Large puzzles of byproducts and cuts of beef drew many children as they learned how beef contributes to everyday life. Students were encouraged to visit the various Ag is Cool stations set up around the fairgrounds to learn about agriculture as a whole.
Ohio’s Heartland Cuisine
Several beef cooking demonstrations were in the lineup of the Ohio’s Heartland Cuisine series in the Taste of Ohio food pavilion. Beef, and other commod-
ity groups, invited chefs and culinary experts to the stage to showcase and promote their respective industry. Ohio Beef Council and Beef Checkoff hosted VIPs such as Ed Kowalski and John DiGiovanni, chefs for the Columbus Blue Jackets; Jason Johnson and Jim Warner, OSU Medical Center nutritionists; and Senator George Voinovich. v