Bedford – The Pennsylvania Beef Council (PBC) in cooperation with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association through the Federation Initiative Fund, kicked off May is BEEF Month celebrations on Saturday, May 6, with a Team BEEF “Meat & Greet” pre-race reception leading up to the 2017 Blue Cross Broad Street Run.
Pennsylvania's Team BEEF is a community of runners and health enthusiasts who recognize the nutritional benefits of lean beef and the vital role this high-quality protein plays in their training. The Team BEEF Reception allowed the group to meet each other to become more connected and enthusiastic about their involvement in the beef community. Local beef producers joined the event to meet, mingle, and thank the athletes for their continued support of beef and its nutritional message.
Deputy Secretary Greg Hostetter, PA Department of Agriculture was on hand to offer remarks and present the official proclamation. “We’re here today because oftentimes the best way to observe and to celebrate something is to give back and say thank you,” said Hostetter. “I applaud the effort to engage and educate those that are not connected to agriculture to furthermore inspire them to be advocates of the beef industry.”
The Broad Street Run is the largest 10-mile footrace in the country and the largest race in Pennsylvania, with 35,000-40,000 runners that finish each year. The Beef Checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), through a grant from the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, partnered with the PBC to coordinate sponsorship of the two-day Health & Fitness Expo leading up to the Broad Street Run. In addition to engaging booth activities for race participants, the Beef Checkoff’s PBC and the NEBPI recruited ten Team BEEF members from the region to participate in the road race.
These athletes are committed to living active, healthy lifestyles and are dedicated to serving their community and helping others lead healthier lives. The fact these athletes demonstrate that beef can play a role in this lifestyle is very encouraging. The PBC, NEBPI and Team BEEF will continue to work toward building a healthier community within Pennsylvania and the Northeast.
“Beef is a great tasting, high-quality protein packed with 10 essential nutrients for optimal health,” noted Bridget Bingham, PBC executive director. “We deeply value and appreciate having a serious team of athletes who willingly and authentically advocate for beef’s nutritional value. Thank you, Team BEEF!”
For more information about Pennsylvania’s beef industry and Team BEEF, visit www.pabeef.org. To view additional photos from the event, visit the Beef Council’s Facebook page.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.
Source: The Pennsylvania Beef Council