California Beef Council Launches “Meat Up with California Ranchers” Podcast

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ROCKLIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2025--

What’s on your holiday playlist? Want to mix it up? While we’re all for dashing through the snow, being home for Christmas, and chestnuts roasting on open fires and all, a fun podcast makes a nice addition to those tried and true holiday selections.

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The California Beef Council's "Meat Up with California Ranchers" podcast mini-series invites listeners to meet some of the people, families, and communities behind California's beef industry.

Envisioned as bonus content to the California Beef Council’s (CBC) popular stories for holiday recipes, hacks, and entertaining ideas, this brand new podcast mini-series invites listeners to meet some of the people, families, and communities behind California’s beef industry.

“This is a fun conversation with some very interesting people,” said Annette Kassis, Director of Consumer & Brand Marketing for the CBC and executive producer of the podcast. “In each episode, we sit down with cattle ranchers and beef producers from across California to hear their stories, their family histories, how they care for their cattle and the land, and the traditions that make California ranching so unique.”

The series includes episodes with a wide range of guests including:

• San Diego County ranching couple Alli and Bryce Fender, co-owners and operators of the Flying F Ranch, whose motto, “We Give a Flying F About Beef” plays into their approach to ranching
• Fourth generation dairy farmer and Dairy Science college professor Nicole Morris, known online as The Milk Diva, and known nationally for coaching a top dairy cattle judging team
• Father and son team Jimmy and Steven Maxey, part of three generations that have been shaping California’s beef industry from ranching roots to innovative butcher shops and food partnerships that keep things fresh, local, and community-driven
• Social entrepreneur, cowgirl, and president of Nova Farming Rizpah Bellard, who grew up ranching, studied at Cornell, and now reconnects kids to where their food comes from
• Mother/daughter ranching team Betsy Behlen and Brooke Helsel of the Dot Seven Ranch who are continuing their family’s nearly century-long legacy of ranching, and balancing tradition with innovation
• Third generation dairyman Jack Hoekstra, whose focus on innovation and sustainability links with family tradition
• Father and son Mike and Matt Byrne of the Robert A. Byrne Company, with a six-generation legacy now leading the way in regenerative ranching, rotational grazing, and wildlife-focused conservation

Hosted by Monti Rossetti, Meat Up with California Ranchers is produced with Hearst StoryStudio and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever podcasts are available. The CBC’s holiday recipes, hacks, and ideas stories for this year’s holiday season are The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Beef, Reinvent the Holiday Progressive Dinner Party, Holiday Treasures on a Budget, and Holiday Beef & Beverage Pairings.

About the California Beef Council

The California Beef Council (CBC) was established in 1954 to serve as the promotion, research, and education arm of the California beef industry, and is mandated by the California Food and Agricultural Code. The CBC’s mission is to amplify the voice of the California beef industry to strengthen beef demand through innovative promotions, research, and open communication. For more information, visit www.calbeef.org.

About the Beef Checkoff

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.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251216247220/en/

CONTACT: Annette Kassis

Director, Consumer & Brand Marketing

916-804-7956

[email protected]

California Beef Council

https://www.calbeef.org/

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PODCAST AGRICULTURE RESTAURANT/BAR NATURAL RESOURCES SUPERMARKET FOOD/BEVERAGE RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT

SOURCE: California Beef Council

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 12/16/2025 12:00 PM/DISC: 12/16/2025 12:00 PM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251216247220/en