The Georgia Beef Board works to support beef with both producers and consumers and we caught up with Wyatt Doolittle with the Georgia Beef Board to learn how they accomplish these goals. I had the opportunity to head over to the Newton County College and Career Academy to lead a beef quality assurance training for a great group of students. And let me tell you, events like this are exactly where the future of Georgia’s beef industry starts.
Beef quality assurance is all about doing things the right way, handling cattle with low stress, improving herd health, and making sure consumers can trust the beef that’s on their plate. When we work with students this early, we’re not just teaching skills, we’re shaping the next generation of producers who will carry Georgia’s beef industry forward. And that mission ties directly into the work we do at the Beef Board, whether we’re educating young people, supporting producers, or engaging with consumers, it’s all about building confidence in beef from pasture to plate.
But another part of strengthening that trust is meeting the consumers where they are, and that’s exactly what we will be doing this Saturday at the Atlanta Chili Cook-Off. This event is one of the largest consumer-facing chili celebrations in the state, and it gives us a chance to talk directly with families, food enthusiasts, and folks who simply love a good bowl of chili. What’s so important about events like this, especially right now, is that they help keep excitement around beef strong, even when consumers are feeling the impact of rising food costs.
When people can taste high quality beef, talk with producers, and see the value behind what we do, it reinforces why beef is worth choosing. It reminds them beef isn’t just another protein, it’s a nutrient-dense, flavorful, locally-supported product that fuels Georgia communities. And that’s the core mission of the Georgia Beef Board, connecting producers and consumers, promoting the value of beef, and keeping our industry front and center in a very competitive marketplace.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.