I've been involved as a cattle producer and a volunteer in both the voluntary and the mandatory Beef Check Offs since 1958. You can take it as 'gospel' that those CowBelles 'of old' took very seriously their duty of making those donated dollars go as far as possible, and do as much good as possible in reaching consumers to promote beef! The conservative and effective use of the money still is top of mind in leaders of the Beef Check-Off today.
It was not a perfect system, as there were too many who believed only 'the little guy' paid it. I know better! In fact some of the biggest ones were very generous.....as were SOME of the smallest. People are people and we sure aren't perfect, are we. And it is not any more so of the biggest ranchers than of the smallest!
That also holds true of people who work at non-ranch/farm jobs. It is highly inaccurate and even insulting to imply that those who work for the Beef Check-Off are "living well and hoping we never figure it out. I've met many of them over the years and they are honest, mostly young, hardworking people who work at most likely lower wages than they could get in other jobs because they grew up in, or just admire the cattle business.
When it became clear that we needed to do more to promote beef than those ranch wives were able to do as volunteers, and the voluntary National Livestock and Meat Board didn't seem adequate, some leaders across the cattle industry spearheaded by the National Cattlemens Assoc. and National CattleWomen , volunteers.worked to implement the current Beef Check-Off. It wasn't an easy decision and going the route of a mandatory system was arrived at after diligent study. Obviously, there were other ag organizations who did not support the idea. In fact, they fought it with all they had. But the voting supported implementation of the current Beef Check-Off with a high percent of 'yes' votes from cattle producers who believed we needed to tell consumers the benefits of beef, since we clearly could not depend upon others to do it for us, nor should we. The old mantra of "pity the poor farmer" was wearing thin with consumers as food prices rose, and improved variety and quality didn't impress those consumers enough anymore.
I don't know all the 'how and why' of settling upon the dollar per head instead of a percentage basis for the fee, but a good guess may be that it is simple and uncomplicated. Many sale barn operators already were just about foaming at the mouth over having to collect and remit the money. Never mind, that, at that time, interest rates were higher, and some of them already were holding the voluntary check off money for months "as a matter of convenience" for themselves. I do believe that even with todays finances, one dollar per head isn't going to put anyone out of the cattle business, and it is demonstrated to have a good rate of return on investment for cattlemen, even if it doesn't show up directly on our balance sheet.
I'm sorry you can't see benefit of the Beef Check-Off. Are you checking with your state Beef Council office? Or the Federation of State Beef Councils, since you obviously don't trust NCBA. They are not the same, you know. And I believe about every Beef related ag group has representation in check-off leadership, including some who have and do word against it.
So far as benefits of the check-off to us as producers, can't you see the value to beef sales in showing food service industries and restaurants how to make use of more tender, less costly cuts of beef to add some lower priced meals to their menu? There have been, maybe still are, work-shops for consumers to help them understand the terms used in beef sales and how to choose beef to fit their needs whatever their budget may be. There is research in so many areas, and I haven't kept up with it well the past couple of years, so hesitate to mention specifics. Some cattlemen don't think that benefits us, but many of us do believe it. Everything that helps more people eat beef does help, imo. I do believe the Brazilian beef imports is more political than practical or wise, given the dangers of their FMD situation.
So far as advertising beef on airplanes, I haven't been on a plane in several years after three trips in a row having problems with connections resulting in ridiculous long lay-overs. Getting old and having family who would rather the 'old folks' not work as much does give us time to travel by car, which is more fun as we enjoy scenery no matter where we go, excepting in large cities! Or high mountains for me. That not working so much isn't working well this fall, tho. The 80 year old senior member is helping with fall cattle work today, after several 4:AM to well toward evening days this month. We all are thankful he still is able to put in those long days. He does prefer more of it be horseback, but is nearly fanatic about managing the vaccine and keeping everything proper temperature and very particular about doing injections properly, so often does at least filling the guns himself. But he does have a 'trainee' coming up in a few years: our four year old great grand girl watches him like a hawk and asks LOTS of questions about the 'why's of what he is doing.
Point: there are more effective ways to 'advertise' beef than old familiar ads, tho I loved seeing and hearing those when they were in use!
The advertising has changed a lot over the years, since there are ways to very accurately learn how much benefit an ad has to the product. There are more direct in-store promotions where the store actually funds a considerable part of the program. Those are very popular with consumers, and I believe sometimes there are still "CowBelles"present to help, though we now are "CattleWomen. The consumers seem to like the interaction of 'real ranchers' so much that some more rural states like SD send Beef Council members to more populated states like New York for the state fair to have 'real cowboys/girls' promoting beef. After all, we do produce far more beef here than our population could possibly eat!
So far as volunteers, there is some expense money paid for Beef Council members and also for the Beef Board members. I also know that it doesn't cover the costs, but makes them bearable. It is no gravy train! Nor should it be. I appreciate those who continue volunteer work after their terms are over, and there are term limits, too. I believe it still is two three year terms.
mrj