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.” 

Timmery Hellyer, Region V Federation Vice President
Pokorny Ranch, Lander, Wyoming

Timmery Hellyer and three generations of her family own and operate Pokorny Ranch, a commercial cow-calf operation. The family is also involved with other enterprises including hay production, feeding and backgrounding. Hellyer is the Region V Federation vice president and serves as a director on the Federation of State Beef Councils where she is a member of the Checkoff Evaluation Committee and co-chair of the Beef Checkoff Safety and Product Innovation Committee. 

How does the Federation of State Beef Councils impact the beef industry?
I love the people who I work with, and I love the lifestyle I live with my family. It is very easy to work on the ranch and to keep our heads down, do our day-to-day work and to provide for the animals in our care. With that, it's also very reassuring to know that the Beef Checkoff through the Federation continues to work on our behalf to promote beef demand and to help consumers understand that beef is delicious, nutritious and sustainably raised. 

What are some of the benefits of investing in the Federation? One of the fabulous aspects of the Federation is it allows state beef councils to operate with smaller staffs and still make a really big impact in their states. For instance, the Wyoming Beef Council was able to utilize the resources of the Federation when they rebuilt their state website, making it mobile friendly and easier to navigate for consumers and for producers. States can save resources on projects like these and not reinvent the wheel. 

State beef councils can also use the media advertising that the Federation has available. No state is required to do it, but because that resource is there it helps states be far more efficient in their own work. The Federation also helps states customize advertising to their local needs. The Federation is able to pool resources to develop consistent messaging while at the same time creating materials that work best for each state.

Why do you think the Federation continues to be vital?
When producers developed the framework for the Federation more than 60 years ago, they envisioned states coming together and pooling their human and monetary resources. They also realized that consumers needed more information about beef, and producers needed more information from consumers about what they wanted. Those needs are just as important today as six decades ago. The Federation continues to serve a role -- it provides research and information to help the beef industry improve our product and at the same time address the concerns and desires of consumers. 

What is the most important message you’d like to share about the Federation?
It is so important for producers to remember that while we are at home working hard on our operations raising quality livestock, the Federation and the Beef Checkoff are busy working tirelessly to improve consumer demand for our product. The Federation allows grassroots producers to come together to work on the aspects of improving consumer demand for beef that we wouldn't all be able to do at home on our own.