Raising The Steaks

It takes a lot to be a champion and it means different things to different folks. But in Wisconsin, the champions there are the youth that participate in the annual State Fair, as well as their supportive parents who help get them there. For 11 days, the Wisconsin State Fair Park holds its namesake event and thousands of people from across the country flock to West Allis, Wisconsin to partake in the fun and food that this state fair has to offer.

Teish and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the fair for a few days and help out the Wisconsin Beef Council with their feature booth in the AG Products Building. We served up some delicious steak samples grilled right at the booth and had a huge selection of new recipes for fairgoers to take home and try. We also answered questions and Teish even headed up the Beef Jeopardy game, where some who took the chance came away with extra goodies including hats and pot holders.

Lots of people came by and I think many of them came away a little more informed than when they arrived. I know I had quite a few people who were concerned about their health and wanted to make sure they were putting good stuff into their bodies. While we are promoting our product, the most important thing to remember when it comes to eating right is to keep everything in moderation. And leading a healthy lifestyle is possible by including beef in your diet. Besides being the number one meat source for protein, zinc and vitamin B12, you can find 29 lean cuts in the grocery store that fall under the USDA guidelines for being lean.

I could go on all day about the good stuff that beef can give you, but for a more visual perspective as well as some of those tasty recipes, check out the Beef It’s What’s for Dinner website. The Wisconsin Beef Council also has a site with a few tips of it’s own as well as information about what they’re doing in “America’s Dairyland” to help beef producers in their state.

When I wasn’t sharing the message of beef nutrition in the AG Products building, I was sent on assignment to capture the spirit of the state fair in the eyes of youth beef exhibitors. These kids pour hours of hard work into making their animals look and feel their best, and nothing shows this better than pictures of them in action. Check out some of these hard-working kids in the photostream we’ve setup for our tour of state fairs this month.

Next stop is Minnesota and then we’re off to New York. We’ll keep you posted with piping-hot pictures straight from the scene. Stay tuned!