National Beef Ambassadors

09/01/2026

Thank you for the most life-changing year of my life. 🤍

This year has been a true testament to the beauty of joy, laughter, growth, and memories. Serving as a National Beef Ambassador taught me so much, but most importantly, it gave me a newfound appreciation for my voice and the responsibility I have to advocate for agriculture. I found confidence in myself, my story, and the industry I am so proud to be a part of.To the cattlewomen from across the nation, thank you for showing me what it means for women to show up, lead, encourage, and lift one another up. Thank you for being strong, determined examples for us to learn from and for welcoming us into such an incredible community of women. To ANCW, thank you for believing in us and giving us opportunities I never could have imagined. Katie and Gabrielle, thank you for being our fearless leaders, seeing something in me, and pushing me to become a better version of myself.To the Tarleton State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, thank you for supporting me through every endeavor and encouraging learning outside the classroom. To my friends at Tarleton, thank you for showing up for every advocacy event, helping me set up, brainstorming ideas, creating content, and being my biggest cheerleaders. I could not have done this without you! To our sponsors and supporters, thank you for making these opportunities possible. We appreciate you more than you know! And to my ambassador team, Rachel and Natalie, I could not have asked for better people to share this year with. I had the best time traveling, learning, laughing, and growing alongside you both. You pushed me, challenged me, encouraged me, and taught me more than you realize. I am so grateful I got to call you my teammates. To the next ambassador team, this program is what you make it! Give it your all and utilize every opportunity to grow. This year flies by, but it truly is the opportunity of a lifetime.This year gave me memories I will carry forever, people I will never forget, and a voice I will continue to use long after this year ends. Thank you for everything!

08/31/2026

Reflecting on my term and saying farewell as a member of the National Beef Ambassador Team!

- 2025 - 2026 Beef Ambassador Team Member, Natalie Dietrich See less

08/30/2026

As my term as a National Beef Ambassador comes to an end, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on everything this experience has given me. This role has taken me across the country, introduced me to amazing individuals I never would have met otherwise, and challenged me to become a better communicator, advocate, and industry person. More importantly, it reminded me that the beef industry is built on long term visionaries who are willing to invest in the future.

One of the ideas that has stuck with me most this year is the thought of the rodear. Rodear is an old cowboy term that comes from the Spanish word rodear, meaning “to surround” or “to encircle.” On a ranch, a rodear is the circle of riders gathered around a herd, each person holding their place so the cattle stay together and can be worked safely. Every rider has a job, but no one can do it alone. If one person leaves their position, the circle begins to break down. That idea extends far beyond the ranch. The rodear is the people in the middle doing the work, learning, asking questions, making mistakes, and growing. But every rodear also has people on the outside holding the circle together. They are the ones creating opportunities, answering phone calls, giving advice, opening doors, and making sure the people in the middle have what they need to succeed. They may never ask for recognition, but without them the circle would not exist.

To everyone who held the outside of our rodear this year, thank you. Thank you for believing in us, trusting us to represent this industry, and giving us the chance to learn by doing. Whether you served as a mentor, hosted us at an event, shared your story, or simply encouraged us along the way, you made a difference. Every conversation and every opportunity helped shape the individuals we are today.

To my fellow ambassadors, thank you for making this year one I will never forget. We covered lots of miles together, met people from every part of the industry, and learned something everywhere we went. I am thankful for the friendships we built and the chance to represent an industry we all care about. This is not the end, just the beginning. Happy Trails!

08/26/2026

Stay awhile and find out what the National Beef Ambassador Program is about! A fun fact from the USDA! The cattle cycle describes a period of time (8–12 years) when the national cattle herd—the total number of all cattle and calves—begins its first year of growth after a period of decline. Then, the herd size will peak after several years of growth, or expansion, and then it will decline for several years before it starts to expand again, starting a new cycle. It is influenced by the combined effects of: cattle prices and input costs that drive cow-calf producer profitability; the gestation period for cattle; the time needed for raising calves to market weight; and climate conditions.

08/26/2026

50/50 Producer: MISSISSIPPI 🥩

Featuring ➡️ MBK Cattle

MBK Cattle was founded in 2011 when Matt and Brandi moved to Mississippi. They brought with them a wealth of experience and a handful of cows. Since then they've grown their herd of Simmental, SimAngus, and Beefmaster cross cattle to near 60 head.

The goal at MBK Cattle is to provide functional females that work not only in the show ring, but more importantly in the pasture. In building the herd, a major goal was to focus on adding the best cow families to build that foundation of productive females.

When our boys, Mason and Miles, joined the MBK team, our focus toward the future became even more important as we continue to build our program.

MK- Beef became a natural extension of our cattle business. What started as finishing a steer for our family to eat, has grown into a beef business that markets whole beef, half beef, and individual cuts to family, friends, and the local community. We pride ourselves on pasture raised, grain finished beef known for added quality.

08/24/2026

From a neighboring dairy farm to building a 400-head beef operation of his own, Jamie Hamilton’s story is a testament to taking opportunities and building something from the ground up. Hamilton Cattle Company is a first-generation beef cattle operation in Pittsford, Vermont, founded by Jamie in 2020 at just 22 years old. Today, the operation leases about 1,500 acres and markets beef directly to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores, farm stores, and local markets.

For Jamie, agriculture is about more than raising cattle. It’s about stewarding the land, providing healthy local food, serving his community, and preserving the heritage of rural America.

Advice to first-generation ranchers:
“Don’t be afraid to bite off more than you can chew, and then figure out how to chew it.”

Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s fifth generation. Building a business takes time, and sharing your story matters. People want to know where their food comes from.

08/20/2026

Learn more about the beef industry today! According to Beef USA, the beef industry is the “most unique and complex lifecycle of any food,” as it includes a variety of segments. All in all, it takes approximately 2-3 years to bring a beef serving from farm to table.

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

Join us in congratulating Brooke, Haley, Hallye, and Laycee on being selected as the 2026-2027 National Beef Ambassadors!

We are excited for their upcoming term that starts September 1st, we can’t wait to see what they are going to accomplish during the year of service

08/07/2026

A great week in College Station at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course with the National Beef Ambassadors. From cattle genetics and herd health to market trends and industry updates, we’re continuing to learn so we can better advocate for the beef industry. Grateful for every opportunity to grow and bring new knowledge home. Thank you to the Brazos Valley Cattlewomen as well, for a fantastic time getting to meet you all, and for the opportunity to support an industry we all care deeply about.