Pennsylvania Beef Ambassador Heads to D.C.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – A Pennsylvania State University animal science student and 2007 participant in the checkoff-funded National Beef Ambassador Program has been awarded a national internship sponsored by the USDA and the American National CattleWomen Inc.

Chris Molinaro, a junior majoring in animal science with a concentration in beef cattle production and agribusiness management, will spend the summer interning in various departments of the USDA's AMS Livestock and Seed Program in Washington, D.C. USDA has chosen a representative from the Ambassador Program in the past because of their exemplary service to and knowledge of the beef industry. The public speaking/leadership program, which began in 1988 and serves students ages 17-20, is managed by the American National CattleWomen Inc. on behalf of the Cattlemen's Beef Board.

"I am excited about the opportunity to have another outstanding student working with us during the summer. Chris will be exposed not only to our program — where we provide oversight for four checkoff programs — but we will also get her out in the field to see what our auditors, commodity meat graders and market news reporters do," said Kenny Payne, chief of the USDA's Marketing Program Branch. "Our hope is that our interns' experience with USDA exposes them to new career opportunities and types of jobs within the Federal government."

"I owe a lot of thanks to my family and God for where I am today," says Molinaro. "My previous work experiences and internships have dealt with production agriculture and I am now anxious to learn about the regulatory aspects of the industry."

Molinaro was selected from four other top National Beef Ambassadors, who were considered based on written essays and personal references. The annual internship competition is open to the top five ambassadors and was announced during the recent Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Reno, Nev.

"Chris is a superb example of the talented youth that are involved in the National Beef Ambassador Program. She has always represented our organization and the beef industry well and we are proud that she has been chosen for this valuable internship," adds Wendy Petz, ANCW president.

Molinaro is actively involved in the Block and Bridle Club (treasurer), Poultry Science Club (secretary), and Disciple Maker's Women's Bible Study as well as campus beef promotions such as the 2nd annual "Meat-In Day" in conjunction with the Great American Meat-Out Day in March. She is also on the 2008 Livestock Judging Team, Poultry Judging Team, and Beef Quiz Bowl Team. Molinaro is currently employed at the Penn State beef barns and poultry barns.

For more information about checkoff-funded activities, visit www.beefboard.org.

The American National CattleWomen Inc. (ANCW) is a trade association with the primary focus of promotion and consumer education regarding beef as a safe and nutritious food, and the production of beef cattle as an industry. The ANCW are a sub-contractor for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). NCBA is a contractor of checkoff dollars used for beef promotion and research efforts on behalf of the Beef Board.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff 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. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

Contact: Melissa Slagle 303-867-6306 mslagle@beefboard.org