Moon is new Minnesota Beef Council chairman
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/29/2010 9:43 AM
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MONTEVIDEO, Minn.— John Moon is looking forward to the challenge of being Minnesota Beef Council's new chairman.
Moon, of Montevideo, was elected by secret ballot July 6 at the council's quarterly board meeting in Bloomington.
He replaces Dennis Swan of Balaton, who took his name out of the election process this year after serving as chairman for 14 years.
"I've been in the cattle business for a long time and I feel that it's time to try and give something back to the industry," said Moon, 68. "And I'm concerned about some of the things that are going on in the country, and our operation has gotten a little smaller so I seem to a have a little more time."
As chairman, he leads the council's 16-member board of directors as they administer state beef checkoff funds to increase demand for beef. He will also be chairman of the executive committee, the budget committee and the personnel committee while continuing to serve on the advertising and promotion committee.
Moon has already served two three-year terms as a council director.The chairman is elected for one year.
A main priority for him will be to address misinformation that consumers receive, particularly about the treatment of animals on farms and ranches as well as the impact of eating beef.
Continued council efforts to reach consumers with research, promotion and education will help spread the producers' point of view, he said.
"I just think we need a better, closer relationship with our consumer and to make sure they get the right story and what they hear is based on fact— not fiction— based on science," he said.
Minnesota Beef Council's executive director, Ron Eustice, described Moon as methodical, a good thinker and one who doesn't jump to conclusions.
"He believes strongly in accuracy and how our industry is depicted in the media and elsewhere," Eustice said.