Georgia Beef Board Highlights Local Engagement and National Health-Focused Initiatives
The Georgia Beef Board has wrapped up a busy few weeks filled with both state and national promotion activities, aiming to connect more consumers with local beef and expand the industry’s reach into health and nutrition sectors.
We caught up with Wyatt Doolittle from the Georgia Beef Board for an update on their recent efforts at the Georgia National Fair. The board’s booth attracted strong attention from attendees. “We drew a lot of consumers into our booth. We’re able to hand out thousands of promotional items, about 15,000 coloring books, and a lot of consumers wanting a directory put together for where they can buy local beef,” Doolittle explained.
In response to this demand, Doolittle added, “So be on the lookout for me shooting some of you producers some emails, asking for information.” The board aims to create a local beef directory to help consumers find farm-to-table options in their own communities.
Beyond the fair, Doolittle also represented Georgia at the national beef promotion planning event, Partnership in Action, which brings together representatives from state beef councils across the country. “So Partnership in Action is a great annual event where we get all of us state beef council representatives together. A lot of interesting conversations, most of which this year were centered more so around the healthcare industry and with a health focus,” he said.
According to Doolittle, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board staff and federation shared valuable resources that state organizations like Georgia’s can use to expand their impact. “And we look forward here in Georgia to partnering with some of their registered dieticians to be able to have a greater presence, not only in hospitals with physicians, but also with sports leagues and parents and getting in the school systems as well.”
With health and nutrition taking center stage in national conversations, Georgia is looking to be part of the solution by promoting beef’s role in a balanced diet. The board’s focus on local beef accessibility and nutrition partnerships underscores its evolving role in both agriculture and public health.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.