From the Meat Industry Hall of Fame:
The Meat Industry Hall of Fame has announced they will be honoring Jo Ann Smith from Florida as one of seven members of the 2015 class. Smith began her involvement with the beef industry in the late 1960s when she became a member of the Florida Beef Council, the USDA Animal Technical Advisory Committee on Livestock and Livestock Products, the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Advisory Committee and the USDA Meat Pricing Task Force. Then from 1970 to 1972, she served as president of the Florida Cattlewomen’s Association.
Smith’s leadership in the agriculture industry has earned her many awards and honors. In 1982 and again in 1988, she was named Man of the Year in American Agriculture by Progressive Farmer magazine. In 1985 she was selected Woman of the Year in Agriculture by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In 1987 the Western States Meat Association honored her with the E. Floyd Forbes Award for Outstanding Service to the Meat Industry.
Smith served as assistant secretary for Marketing and Inspection Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1989 to 1993. Her leadership role on important issues such as groundwater quality, rural development and animal welfare regulation had a positive impact on farmers and consumers all across the country.
In 1990 she was given the Golden Spur Award by the Ranching Heritage Association.
In 1992 she received a Good Government Award from the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, and an Outstanding Contributions to American Agriculture Award from the National Agricultural Editors Association. This year, in addition to being inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame, she received the Swan Leadership Award by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and is being inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Smith was the founding chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, spearheading and developing the highly successful Beef Check-off Program. A national advertising campaign funded by the Check-off has proven remarkably effective, improving the public’s perception of beef’s nutritional value.
The Induction Ceremony and Dinner is scheduled for Monday, November 2nd at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC, the evening before the start of the North American Meat Institute’s Annual Meeting and Outlook Conference.
For more information go to www.meatindustryhalloffame.org.