WINNSBORO GIRL NAMED NATIONAL BEEF AMBASSADOR

Mandy-Jo Laurent of Winnsboro, TX was chosen as a National Beef Ambassador Contest winner along with Ellen Hoffschneider, Arlington, NE, Malorie Bankhead, Livermore, CA, Rebecca Vraspir, Laramie, WY, and Jackson
Alexander, Anadarko, OK. These five winners will be the 2010 National Beef Ambassador Team.

This annual contest funded in part by the beef checkoff and hosted by the American National CattleWomen was held October 9-11 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Contestants were judged in the areas of consumer promotion, classroom presentation, media interview technique, and issues response.

Contestants from throughout the country vied for a place on this elite team of agriculture advocates and $5,000 in cash prizes sponsored exclusively by Groseta Ranches, LLC. Additionally five educational scholarships totaling
$3,750 were given by the American National CattleWomen Foundation, Inc. For the past three years, one Beef Ambassador has been chosen for a prestigious USDA internship in Washington DC.

The Texas winning contestant, Mandy-Jo Laurent, is the 18 year old daughter of Jim and Melissa Laurent. In high school, she was president of her class, voted "Most Likely to be Remembered", and was an Honor Roll student.

Mandy-Jo recently served as the Texas 4-H Secretary, President of the Central Heights FFA, District 5 4-H, and the Nacogdoches County Youth Board.

Mandy-Jo started showing cattle at age 9. Her herd now includes her own"bred and owned" registered Brahmans and Santa Gertrudis cattle.

She is now a member of the Texas Tech Red Raider Class of 2013. While at Texas Tech University she is on the judging team and is majoring in Agriculture Communications and double minoring in Political Science and Animal Science. She plans to attend law school and become a lobbyist in the agriculture industry.

While preparing for this national beef promotion and education competition, youth across the nation learn about beef and the beef industry with support from state CattleWomen, Cattlemen's associations and state beef councils. The preparation highlights industry issues of current consumer interest. Winners of the state competitions compete at the national level receiving additional media training.

After the event, as youth ambassadors, they speak to industry issues and misconceptions, while educating peers and others about food safety, nutrition and the Beef Checkoff Program at consumer events, in the classroom and online. The Texas State Chair for the National Beef Ambassador Contest, Rosemary Gambino, said, "This is the only program of its kind in the nation where youth are required to defend the beef industry to other youth armed with scientific facts and the best practices of beef production." For more information about the contest visit www.txcattlewomen.org and www.nationalbeefambassador.org.