Funded by Georgia Producers through Beef CheckOff
The Georgia Beef Board is an organization working for the beef producers of Georgia in areas of education, promotion and research.
The Georgia Beef Board office is located in Macon. This office is also home to the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, the membership division of Georgia’s beef industry.
An 11-member board oversees and directs the activities of the Georgia Beef Board. Three cattle producers are elected by the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association board, while other representatives include members from the Georgia Milk Producers, Georgia Livestock Markets and Georgia Farm Bureau.
The Georgia Beef Board is one of 45 state beef councils funded by the beef checkoff program. The beef checkoff program requires cattle producers to pay $1 per head on all cattle sold. Of the $1 per head collected for the checkoff, 50 cents remains in Georgia for state coordinated activities while the other half is sent to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in Denver, CO, for national checkoff funded programs.
The Georgia Beef Board is also affiliated with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, headquartered in Denver, CO.
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and state beef councils work together to coordinate beef promotion, information and research.
National beef promotion efforts include the "Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner." advertising campaign; new marketing efforts focused on promotion of value-added, fully cooked beef products designed to meet the quick, convenient meal needs of today’s consumer; nutrition education for health professionals, consumer educators and the public; education kits for youth in grades K-12; foreign market development for Georgia beef; and efforts to work with meat retailers to make shopping for beef easier.
Why is there a beef checkoff?
Beef producers created our checkoff as a self-help
promotion, research and information program to influence demand for
beef. It was approved in 1988 by 79-percent of beef producers in a
referendum after grassroots input shaped the program:
- All producers and importers pay the same $1 per head.
- Producers in the state control one half of the money collected by state beef councils.
- All national checkoff-funded programs are budgeted and evaluated by the Beef Board.
- Beef Board members are nominated by fellow beef producers.
What can the checkoff do?
Our checkoff is the only industry-wide, self-help tool we
have to fight for the success of the industry. Our checkoff acts as
a catalyst for change. Our checkoff doesn't own cattle, packing plants
or retail outlets and can't single-handedly turn around a bad market.
What we, as beef producers, wanted when we created the checkoff was a
way to stimulate foodservice and retail to sell more beef, and consumers
to buy more beef. This can be done through initiatives such as
advertising, public relations efforts, educational programs and new
product development assistance.
What can't the checkoff do?
By law, our checkoff funds cannot be used to influence
government policy or action, including lobbying.
For more information on the Beef
Checkoff program, visit out Frequently Asked Questions link below.
FAQ Page: The Beef Checkoff – How Does It Work?
"Recipe of the Month Club" newsletter
Would you like to receive free beef recipes every month via
e-mail? Then join the Georgia Beef Board's Recipe of the Month
Club. Simply complete the form below and you will receive free
beef recipes and nutritional information every month. It is
completely free, and you can discontinue your membership at any
time. Join today!
Click Here To Sign Up
Georgia Beef Board Staff
Josh White
Executive Vice President
Georgia Cattlemen's Association and Georgia Beef Board
josh@gabeef.org
Brooke Williams
Director of Industry Information
Georgia Cattlemen's Association and Georgia Beef Board
brooke@gabeef.org
Tricia Combes
Administrative Program
Specialist
Georgia Beef Board
tricia@gabeef.org
Michele
Creamer
Business Manager
Georgia Cattlemen's Association
michele@gabeef.org
Georgia Beef Board - Board of Directors
The Georgia Beef Board is
made up of representatives from the Georgia Cattlemen's Association,
Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Milk Producers and Georgia Livestock
Markets. Each member serves a three–year term. Below is a list of
current board members.
|
Georgia Cattlemen's
Association
Dr. Frank Thomas
Lane Holton |
Georgia Milk Producers
Charles Rucks |
|
Georgia Farm Bureau
Robert Fountain Jr.
Gerald Long, Treasurer |
Georgia Livestock Markets Graydon Bobo P.O. Box 623 Washington, GA 30673 706/285-2467 Kelly Buchanan 505 Southerfield Road Americus,GA 31709 229/924-2931 Phil
Harvey, Vice Chairman |