Arizona Nutrition Conference Features Beef Speaker

Lauren Maehling, Executive Director | July 11, 2022

The Arizona Beef Council (ABC), with generous funding from the Iowa Beef Industry Council, sponsored and attended the Annual Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference on June 3 and 4, 2022. The conference was attended by over 150 registered dietitians, nutrition leaders, and decision-makers from across Arizona. ABC staff set up a booth for the duration of the conference allowing for open dialogue with nutrition experts about beef and how it can be included in a healthy diet.

Through the support of the Nutrition Seminar Program, the ABC provided speaker Melissa Joy Dobbins, a highly qualified and respected registered dietitian, who provided the conference keynote. The Nutrition Seminar Program, funded by the Beef Checkoff, works in collaboration with State Beef Councils to provide influential, credentialed health and nutrition experts to speak on cutting-edge issues at State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics meetings, as well as other state-wide meetings and conferences whose audiences include credentialed health professionals. 

Melissa’s presentation covered topics such as the difference between sustainability perceptions and evidenced-based sustainability factors, agricultural practices, their impact on the environment, and how the ag community is constantly working to improve sustainability. As sustainable nutrition continues to be a hot topic, Melissa also shared how to translate evidence-based information to the public. Finally, she wrapped up with how to develop an action plan to engage the public in more positive and productive conversations about health, food, and farming.


The nutrition community is one the ABC interacts with regularly to share beef information, whether that is nutrition, cooking tips, or information on beef production. The potential influence of this group is strong, and that additional reach allows the ABC board and staff to use the Beef Checkoff dollars to reach more consumers about the incredible story of beef.  

AZAND is Arizona’s membership organization for nutrition professionals and is an affiliate of the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. With nearly 70,000 members, the Academy is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and promotes optimal nutrition and well-being for all people (per eatrightarizona.org). The annual conference provides continuing education credits to AZAND’s more than 1000 members practicing in every community in Arizona. Most members are Registered Dietitians (RD) / Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) or Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR). AZAND also includes allied health professionals and students in dietetics programs.

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About the Beef Checkoff Program      

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff 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. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA Approval.        

About the Arizona Beef Council     

The Arizona Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors representing cattle growers, cattle feeders, and dairy farmers, and are appointed by the Governor of Arizona. These volunteers oversee Arizona’s beef checkoff and checkoff-funded programs.