ALBANY — Each year the New York Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Advisory Committee selects one deserving supporter to receive the annual BQA Award presented at the New York Beef Producers’ Association Annual Meeting. This year Carol Gillis, who served as the Executive Director of the New York Beef Council and Co-Coordinator of the BQA program for 17 years, was recognized.
The objective of BQA is to enhance carcass quality & safety thereby protecting consumer confidence in the beef supply. Carol has embodied this objective and under her leadership has grown BQA into a robust educational program for beef and dairy farmers throughout the state working to improve the quality of beef by connecting producers with the newest research and animal care techniques. The program takes many hands to run and has continued to grow through support from generous sponsors, veterinary professionals, and local extension staff; however, it was Carol Gillis’ hard work and dedication to the program that was instrumental in the program’s success. Often behind the scenes, her work to continuously promote the program and ensure the smooth execution of trainings were the basis to an increased number of trainings offered and producers certified. The BQA Program currently has over 1000 active beef producers, farm employees, and students.
Under Carol’s leadership the New York BQA Advisory Committee was established and grew with the addition of representatives from youth education, allied industry partners, and veterinarians, all inspired by Carol’s vision to grow the program and ensure success. “I have served on the Beef Quality Assurance Committee since its inception and know that Carol has led us to ideas that have not only worked for NY but have been adopted in several other states,” shared Jake Martin of Tamberlane Farms.
Carol continually strived to extend the core principles of the BQA which led her to partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Educators and post-secondary agricultural programs who offered BQA trainings to a wider audience, including aspiring agriculturalist of all ages. Mike Baker, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist and BQA Co-Coordinator said, “Beginning in 2005, Carol and I have worked with professors of Animal Science Departments from all of the major post-secondary programs including SUNY Cobleskill, Morrisville State College, Cornell University, and Alfred State College to educate both livestock and dairy students on the core principals of BQA. These core principals include animal handling and care, feedstuffs, health management and record keeping.
Carol had an indescribable impact on not only the BQA program but the larger NY beef industry over her 23 years working in the industry. Congratulations Carol!
For more information on the Beef Quality Assurance Program visit www.nybeef.org
—New York Beef Producers’ Association