SYRACUSE, N.Y. — 37 years ago the Beef Promotion and Research Act was established by beef farmers and ranchers who put forth an effort through the US Farm Bill to create the Beef Checkoff. The Beef Checkoff as you know is the basis of funding for the promotion of BEEF. As stewards of Beef Checkoff dollars, the New York Beef Council (NYBC) puts forth efforts daily to educate and promote beef from farm to fork. We work through a variety of programs and promotions to educate consumers, social influencers, dietitians, medical associates, and beef producers to connect consumers with the beef industry.
One of the awards presented by the NYBC annually is The Beef Promoter of the Year. This award was created to look beyond daily beef production practices and recognize the above-and-beyond efforts of our beef producers who along with raising beef are also highlighting the extensive and varied activities they do to help the NYBC with the education and promotion of beef.
Currently, there are four employees at the NYBC laser-focused on our mission to enhance the lives of over 19 million consumers by connecting them with BEEF and the Beef community, a daunting task at best and we learned we can’t do it alone! As some of you know, we often enlist the help of others – the keyword “others” being YOU, our NY Beef Producers! We alone cannot communicate the commitment you have to this industry. Over the years we have had many winners of this award. Our consumers have expressed interest in knowing who you are and what you do, we can tell them, but only you can show them!
I am honored to announce this year’s recipient of the Beef Promoter of the Year Award is the Perkins Family of Easton Station Farms. Easton Station Farms is a small, family farm located in picturesque Washington County, NY. Erin alongside her husband Jeremey raises Blonde d ‘Aquitaine and commercial crossbred cattle where they farm as a family with their two sons. They take pride in sharing the way they raise their cattle with their customers through the farm’s social media accounts. Erin has worked to consistently share beef information by providing farm updates and allowing her followers, on the @EastonStationFarms Instagram and Facebook page, to get a glimpse at the big and small daily tasks it takes to raise beef cattle. Followers are regularly invited to ask questions and follow along as their favorite calves grow and thrive at their farm.
When asked for a comment on this year’s award recipient Brian Gilchrist Executive Director of CCE Washington County stated “Erin and Jeremey Perkins bring not only a passion for educating themselves about starting and growing a sustainable beef operation but have also embraced a passion for educating others – not only about their farm but about agriculture and the beef industry in general. Their successful social media outreach draws followers into the daily life of their farm while always providing some sort of educational message about what the follower is seeing. Their posts highlight the joys of raising beef, while never shying away from the sorrows and realities of farm life and the beef industry. Their advocacy extends from public to producer – hosting farm tours for the public to allowing organizations like Cooperative Extension to conduct on-farm workshops. While still young themselves, Erin and Jeremy have recognized the importance of youth voice and advocacy within the beef industry and were the driving force behind creating and implementing the “Jr. Beef Ambassadors Program” with the goal to give youth the tools they need to effectively promote and communicate the importance of the beef industry. Erin and Jeremy are well deserving of this award!”
Erin is an active alumna of the Masters of Beef Advocacy program and a graduate of the New York Top of the Class Advocate training. The Perkin family’s passion for what they do and care for their animals are easy to see and feel which has made their farm a perfect location for the multiple farm tours NYBC has hosted at their farm successful.
Over the years we have had many winners of this award. The Perkin family is the latest addition to our positive role models and advocates of our industry who unselfishly assisted the NYBC in the promotion of the industry with consumers 3-4 times removed from the life they live. To learn more about New York Beef Council and Beef Checkoff-funded activities happening in New York visit www.nybeef.org.
–New York Beef Council
Beef Checkoff