Cochranton, Pa. (March 22, 2022) – With more than 98% of Americans having little to no direct connection to farming or ranching, now, more than ever, there’s a need and opportunity for the agriculture community to tell its story. In honor of National Ag Day, the Pennsylvania Beef Council is sharing one story of a Pennsylvania beef producer who understands the importance of inspiring the next generation to get involved. 

Farming is a family affair at Dunn Herefords in Cochranton, Pa. For the Dunn family, the primary goals are to raise quality cattle and to allow their children the opportunity to exhibit the cattle they are producing. These goals come to life with hard work, daily management and quality care.  The Dunns take Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) seriously and work diligently to provide their animals with proper care so that they remain healthy and productive. The national Beef Checkoff-funded BQA program provides best practices for handling cattle and welfare to ensure that beef is safe and wholesome for consumers. 

“We treat our cows with respect and dignity,” said Bobbi Dunn. “It’s so important to me for consumers to trust the beef that we produce. The beef I feed to my family is the same beef that is on the grocery store shelves and sold in our on-farm store. As a mom, I trust that beef is a safe, nutritious product to shine at the center of our family’s dinner table.”  

The Dunn family has been farming the rolling hills of northwestern Pennsylvania since the 1880s and cattle have been part of the operation since 1943. Not only is animal care critically important, but environmental stewardship is a key pillar of their farm operation. Over the years, the Dunns have incorporated farming practices that improve soil quality, repair waterways and protect the land for future generations. Bill Dunn said, “this land has been in my family for almost 150 years and I want nothing more than for my children and grandchildren to have the opportunity to farm here if they want.”  

From producers to consumers, everyone can be involved with agriculture. Whether you are part of the future generation of farmers and ranchers or simply want to know how food gets from pasture to plate, all you need to get involved is effort and the drive to learn more. To learn about beef’s journey from pasture to plate, visit mba.beeflearningcenter.org. For more information about Pennsylvania’s farming and ranching families, visit www.pabeef.org. 

### 

The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.