The Minnesota Beef Council, in partnership with the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, is now accepting applications for its 2025 Top of the Class program—a year-long professional development opportunity designed to build confident, effective advocates for the beef industry.

Applications opened July 1 and will be accepted through September 4, 2025. Participants selected for this unique program will receive a range of hands-on training and real-world experience, including media interview skills, culinary demonstrations, presentation development, social media strategy, and more.

The 2025–2026 program includes three educational sessions:

In-state seminars:

Session I – October 22-23, 2025 (Maple Plain/St. Paul, Minn.)

Session III – March 4-5, 2026 (St. Paul, Minn.)

Out-of-state seminar:

Session II – January 13–16, 2026 (Denver, Colo.)

The Minnesota Beef Council, a producer-led, non-profit organization funded by the Beef Checkoff, will guide participants through key learning areas such as personal storytelling, beef nutrition, and working with different media platforms to share the beef message effectively.

The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MNSCA) brings in the policy and legislative perspective, helping participants understand the issues affecting beef producers at the local, state, and national levels.

Graduates of the Top of the Class program join an accomplished network of alumni and may be invited to support the Minnesota Beef Council and MNSCA by participating in media outreach, consumer engagement, educational events, and more.

There is a $300 participation fee. Program details and the application form can be accessed at: www.mnbeef.org/Media/MNBeef/Docs/2025-top-of-the-class-application_1.pdf 

Completed applications should be submitted to Kelly Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of the Minnesota Beef Council, at kelly@mnbeef.org by September 4, 2025.