Masters of Beef Advocacy program celebrates 25,000 graduates

DENVER — Two years ago, the Masters of Beef Advocacy program managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hit 20,000 graduates.

This year, the program celebrates an additional 5,000 graduates — reaching a new milestone for advocacy in the beef industry.

“It feels like yesterday that we were celebrating 20,000 graduates,” said Paul Dybedahl, associate director of communications for the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program.

“Just two years later, it’s incredible to see an additional 5,000 graduates, all willing to dedicate their time to learn more about, and advocate for, the beef industry.”

Created in 2009, the MBA program is a free, self-guided online course that provides members of the beef community — from farmers and ranchers to students, supply chain members and consumers — with the tools and resources needed to become a strong advocate for the beef community.

In 2021, the MBA program launched MBA NextGen, which updated training modules, splitting the course into five online lessons:

• The Beef Community — Context of raising beef from pasture to plate with a focus on the community of people involved throughout the beef life cycle.

• Raising Cattle on Grass — An introduction to the first step in the beef lifecycle and the many benefits of raising cattle on our country’s vast grass pasture resources.

• Life in the Feedyard — A discussion on the role of feedyards, including animal care, nutrition and environmental stewardship, at this important step in the beef lifecycle.

• From Cattle to Beef — An in-depth look at the slaughter process and the humane handling and safety measures in place at today’s beef processing facilities.

• Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. — A primer on choosing and cooking the right cuts of beef and the important role of beef in a healthful diet.

After completing NextGen, MBA graduates can enroll in MBA Continuing Education where graduates can continue their education with more lessons on beef’s nutrition, sustainability and animal welfare among more.

Graduates can also access monthly newsletters and join the program’s Facebook community where updates are given on the latest consumer trends.

Anyone interested in learning about beef’s journey from pasture to plate is invited to enroll at https://mba.beeflearningcenter.org/.