Partnerships in Action: Build a Game Plan
October 30, 2025 | 3 min to read
Bedford, PA – The annual Partnerships in Action (PIA) conference, held Oct. 13-16 in Denver, Co., brought state beef councils from across the country together to learn about the work of the Beef Checkoff. Attendees representing the Pennsylvania Beef Council (PBC) discussed ways national efforts can be expanded in Pennsylvania and developed a game plan for implementation. Coordinated by the Federation of State Beef Councils and funded by the Beef Checkoff, PIA strengthens the state and national Checkoff partnership.
Professional baseball player Ty Blach was the event’s keynote speaker and shared how his agricultural roots instilled the drive and work ethic to succeed in baseball. Blach’s parents grew up on Colorado’s eastern plains, and the Blach family ranch in Yuma provided many life lessons during his formative years. Growing up, he spent a lot of time on the ranch branding cattle and seeing firsthand how agriculture provides opportunities.
During his presentation Blach stated, “Agriculture is at the heart of who I am and what I do every day.”
Blach’s inspirational message focused on the value of teamwork and mentoring others so everyone can be their best.
“It is awesome to know state beef councils across the country are working together to share ideas and to be there for each other,” he said. “Everyone is here for a reason – sharing their passion about beef.”
Topics discussed during PIA highlighted how the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, and state beef councils work together to drive demand for beef. Attendees learned about program strategy, current consumer trends and preferences, and upcoming Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. promotions. More than 65 staff members from 30 state beef councils participated in the event, including Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director, and Kaitlyn Swope, Director of Marketing from the Pennsylvania Beef Council.
“When state beef councils gather together and share ideas, everyone wins,” said Nichole Hockenberry, PBC Executive Director. “It is exciting to share what we are doing with others, and I always bring home new ideas to implement in Pennsylvania.”
The Pennsylvania Beef Council is part of the Federation of State Beef Councils and voluntarily invests in the Federation to enhance the national Checkoff and leverage producer dollars through a coordinated partnership. For more information about how the Pennsylvania Beef Council is driving the demand for beef, 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.
About the Federation of State Beef Councils
Created in 1963, the Federation of State Beef Councils represents the 43 Qualified State Beef Councils and is committed to its vision, which is to build beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership. State beef councils voluntarily invest in the Federation to enhance the national Checkoff and leverage producer dollars through a coordinated partnership. Housed at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, the Federation is a grassroots organization run by producers across the country.