Meet Your Cattlemen’s Beef Board Members

Ninety-nine – that’s the total number of members representing every industry sector on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Every one of those 99 CBB members is deeply rooted and actively involved in the beef industry. Despite running operations and businesses of their own, these producer and importer leaders volunteer their valuable time to represent both the entire beef industry and producers in their states. Here, a handful of CBB members from across the U.S. tell us why they chose to get involved. Visit BeefBoard.org/Meet-Your-Board to learn about the board members in your state.

Irv owns and operates, along with his two sons and nephew, the Y6 Ranch in Meriden, Wyoming. The ranch has extensive grassland, irrigated farm ground, native hay meadows and a 6,000-head custom feedlot. Irv has been directly involved with the Beef Checkoff since 2001 and currently serves on the Executive and International Marketing Committees.

“The Beef Checkoff is the quarterback of the beef industry team. Because of extensive Checkoff-funded programs, the beef industry had success in the past and is looking toward a bright future on the horizon.”

For the past 40 years, Daphne and her husband, Lloyd, have owned and operated the farm and dairy operation, Rosy-Lane Holsteins, with their partners Tim Strobel and Jordan Matthews. The team farms 2,000 acres and milks about 950 Holstein cows. The operation ships milk to Saputo, a dairy company, where it’s made into cheese. Daphne’s responsibilities on the farm include overseeing human resources, farm safety and animal care. She also organizes farm tours and manages the farm’s social media outreach. She serves on the Consumer Trust Committee.

“I believe in the power of promotion. I worked in food and ag communications for more than 10 years after college, and I hope to apply that experience to the industry’s future challenges. We must work harder and smarter to reach consumers and listen to them more.”

Bill has owned the Bill King Ranch for 45 years. It includes a cow-calf operation with Angus, Hereford and Charolais herds, a feedlot operation and 4,000 acres of corn, hay, and wheat. Bill has also been active in agricultural organizations and is a past president of both the American Hereford Association and the New Mexico Cattle Growers; a past regional vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; and a past board member for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

“The Beef Checkoff has put beef at the center of the plate for most American households and more families worldwide. The Checkoff is also dedicated to helping every single beef producer in the U.S. – and it has done just that.”

Katie is a proud fourth-generation rancher working on her family’s registered Hereford operation in Willow Creek, MT. The family’s ranch is home to more than 200 head of Line 1 Hereford cows; 150 head of home-raised, cross-bred cows utilized in their embryo transfer program; and a farming operation that produces hay and grain. Every March, the ranch markets close to 100 yearling bulls at its annual production sale, with 2021 marking the sale’s 55^th anniversary. Katie currently serves as co-chair for the Domestic Marketing Committee, an extension of the Innovation Committee that was part of the Beef Industry’s prior five-year Long Range Plan.

“I believe it’s important to show up and give back, and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board allows me to do just that for the hardworking men and women of our industry. The work performed by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is like no other in the nation and I am honored to play a role in helping drive consumer demand for beef through Checkoff programs.”

Kristina has been involved in agriculture her entire life. She spent her early years on a dairy, hog and tobacco farm in Watertown, TN. She and her husband, Bill, spent 35 years in the livestock auction market sector. They retired in January 2020 but still run their small background operation. Kristina currently serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee FFA Foundation, the advisory board for the Tennessee Beef Foundation, and she is a member of the Tennessee Livestock Markets Assoc., Wilson County Cattleman’s Assoc. and the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee. She will serve on the CBB’s Stakeholder Engagement committee for 2021.

“2020 brought many consumers back to the kitchen. I believe the Checkoff-funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand provides a wealth of solid information about beef and outstanding recipes for families cooking together again.”