Andy Kellom , Beef Promotion Operating Committee JBC Farms , Ltd ., Hobson , Montana
Building beef demand by inspiring , unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership .
For more than 60 years , grassroots producer engagement has driven the demand for beef through the Federation of State Beef Councils . States voluntarily invest in the Federation to build beef demand by inspiring , unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership . Ultimately , it is cattle producers from coast to coast who direct the Federation ’ s work , and we celebrate their dedication . These are the “ Faces of the Federation .”
Born and raised in southeast Idaho , college brought Andy Kellom to Montana where he and his wife created a home with their three children . Kellom has been involved in the cattle industry his entire life and now manages a feedlot , stocker operation and farm in central Montana . From the time he was old enough to decide what he wanted to do in life , being involved in the cattle industry is the only thing Kellom ever wanted . He became a member of the Montana Beef Council nearly a decade ago and has served the Federation of State Beef Councils as a director , past Region V Federation vice president and now a member of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee .
How does the Federation of State Beef Councils impact the beef industry ?
The value of being a volunteer leader is that we all have input on the process . All of the people involved in Checkoff meetings are producers from all over the United States ; we all have input on what happens at the Federation with our Checkoff dollars . The Federation of State Beef Councils brings us together . We provide input and we work in one direction together . The Federation benefits all of us , sometimes in different ways , but the collective effort moves us forward so that each state is not recreating programs . To me , sharing resources has a powerful impact on our industry . What are some of the benefits of investing in the Federation ?
Montana uses Federation services extensively . We don ’ t have to go out and hire a web designer , we don ’ t have to hire a graphic designer . Those things are available to us through the Federation , and the content and the quality that we ’ re able to get is second to none . We couldn ’ t do the quality work on our own , and if we could it would cost us a lot of money , but being members of the Federation of State Beef Councils , we have access to critical services , as does every other state . Why do you think the Federation continues to be vital ?
Even after 60 years , the Federation continues to be vital because we have a vastly different consumer today than we did when the Federation began . The Federation of State Beef Councils really helps us understand the consumer and then gets beef in front of consumers in a way that encourages them to purchase our product . At the end of the day , we ’ re putting more beef on more plates . That is the job of the Federation , and it remains just as vital today . What is the most important message you ’ d like to share about the Federation ?
My message to producers is just because you don ’ t see it , just because you don ’ t touch it , doesn ’ t mean it ’ s not working for you every day . One of the challenges that we have as an industry is that we ’ re widespread and we ’ re independent . My goal is to help producers understand that these research , education and promotion programs are happening every day on their behalf .
If producers have questions about what ’ s happening with Checkoff dollars , I encourage them to come and see the Federation of State Beef Councils at work . It ’ s completely driven by producer input top to bottom . Producers guiding the work of the Federation do everything they can to ensure we get the best bang for our buck . The advantage of the Federation is pooling resources and finding projects that have the most impact .
My hope for the future of the cattle industry is that the work we ’ re doing through the Federation of State Beef Councils helps us maintain a viable industry . I would like my kids to have the same opportunity that I ’ ve had to find a career and a path in an industry I truly love . I believe that the Federation and the work of the Beef Checkoff are going to help us create a thriving industry for the next generation .
22 MARCH 2025 www . NCBA . org