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Showcasing beef at the Little League World Series

The Beef Checkoff is partnering with the Little League World Series to highlight the important role beef plays in an active lifestyle.

Andy Bishop, a Kentucky cattle producer and chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, says this week’s event started with a player meal featuring beef. “You had teams from all over the world there and then they went through stations outside where we did beef games with them,” he says.  “It was just all around a pretty cool event to get those kids excited about beef.”

He tells Brownfield beef is a vital part of a healthy diet, especially for athletes. “These kids are high-energy type kids,” he says. “They’re getting a lot of exercise. They need a lot of protein; they need a lot of nutrients that they’re lacking in their normal diet. So it’s important that we get that message out there, that hey, beef is a way to refuel your body and provide those essential nutrients and the vitamins that you need.”

Two of Bishop’s sons are participating in this week’s events, too.

Nine-year-old Boone has been leading beef activities for baseball players from around the world. “Well, it was fun because I got to teach them how to rope, and I think they really liked it,” he says. “And I think they really liked the beef and I think they really like playing the games that we made up for them.”

Jake, who is 12, says when it comes to beef – there are a few things he wants the baseball players to remember. “That we take care of our animals,” he says.  “And that there’s a lot of things that they can try or tell their families about when they go back to their countries wherever they live.”

There are 20 teams participating in this year’s Little League World Series, 10 from the U.S. and 10 from other countries around the globe.

The LLWS runs through August 25^th and is being played at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  

AUDIO: Interview with Andy Bishop of Kentucky and his sons Boone and Jake

Photos courtesy of Andy Bishop.