Three Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) members have been named to the Texas Beef Council and the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas boards of directors.
TFB state directors Zachary Yanta and Pat McDowell and former TFB vice president Michael White represent the state’s largest farm and ranch organization and Texas cattlemen and women.
Through their roles on the boards, they will help establish the budget and determine which demand-building programs receive funding collected under the national and state beef checkoff programs.
Yanta, who is in his third term on the boards, serves on the beef resources committee. This committee approves and evaluates checkoff-funded beef quality assurance programs, producer communications, issues and reputation management, research projects and export programs conducted in partnership with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Yanta runs a cow-calf operation, stockers and fed cattle in the feedyard. He also grows corn, grain sorghum and cotton in Karnes County and the surrounding area, along with no-till cover crops, legumes and sesame. For many years, he has been involved and served in leadership roles within TFB and Karnes County Farm Bureau.
McDowell is serving his first term on the boards and is also a member of the beef resources committee.
McDowell partners with his two brothers in commercial cow-calf and stocker operations in the Eastern Texas Panhandle. The McDowell Ranch also farms cotton, corn, wheat and hay. In addition to his role as a TFB state director, McDowell is a USMEF board member and has served on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.
White, who is in his fourth term, is the vice chairman of the board.
As the vice chairman of the TBC board, White serves on the executive committee and the domestic marketing committee. The executive committee is responsible for overseeing board decisions and speaking on behalf of Texas beef producers when necessary. The domestic marketing committee approves and evaluates checkoff-funded programs in the areas of retail and foodservice outreach, consumer marketing, media relations and nutrition and health outreach.
White is a fourth generation farmer and rancher in Wilbarger County. Gene & Michael White Farms raises wheat, cotton and commercial cattle. He has been involved with TFB since 1988. White also is a board member for the Wilbarger County Junior Livestock Show and is a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Vernon.
Board members’ terms coincide with Texas Beef Council’s fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Directors can serve up to six consecutive one-year terms on the checkoff boards.