Five representatives of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council will be at the Beef Checkoff table at the Cattle Industry Annual Meeting in Reno, Nev., Feb. 6-9.

They have been appointed to serve on national committees that oversee a range of programs funded by the $1 per head checkoff.

Traveling to Reno will be SDBIC President Bob Fortune, Belvidere (product enhancement); Roger Gerdes, Miller, (advertising); Becky Walth, Glenham, (human nutrition research chairwoman); Mike Stahly, Cavour, (issues management); and Barry Jennings, Pierre (international markets).

In addition, three South Dakotans who serve on the Cattlemen's Beef Board will also serve on committees: Merrill Karlen Jr., Oacoma (international markets); Myron Williams, Wall (youth education and information); Ed Blair, Vale (human nutrition research); and Allen Walth, Glenham, (nutrition influencers).

Jennings will be attending his first Cattle Industry Annual Meeting as SDBIC executive director.

During the three-day event, committee members will review and analyze the cost and effectiveness of current programs, as well as consider new initiatives. Their recommendations will then be considered by the Cattlemen's Beef Board, which approves the annual budget for national checkoff-funded programs. CBB members are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

The SDBIC collects and administers the $1 beef checkoff on cattle sold in South Dakota. Checkoff dollars are used for promotion, education or research programs. Fifty cents of every dollar is directed to the Cattlemen's Beef Board for programs on the national level. The SDBIC retains 50 cents, which is spent on additional national programs or in-state programs.

The SDBIC is made of three representatives from eight agricultural organizations: South Dakota Beef Breeds Council, South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, South Dakota Cattlemen's Auxiliary, South Dakota CattleWomen, South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation, South Dakota Farmers Union, South Dakota Livestock Auction Market Association, and South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.