Olympic skating star Sasha Cohen, who names beef as one of her favorite foods, has had a busy year, highlighted by her overwhelming selection as the "hottest woman in sports" by a FoxSports.com on-line poll in July.

The beef industry's Joint Youth Education and Information Subcommittee selected the rising figure skating sensation in 2001 as its spokes person through a partnership with the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Publicity surrounding Sasha Cohen and her enjoyment of beef in a healthy lifestyle was just one of many successful efforts by the subcommittee to reach its primary target audience, girls ages 8-12.

Successful efforts by the subcommittee throughout the past months include the BurgerTown (www.burgertown.com) web site, the development of a program for Girl Scouts troops, development of a new school kit and continued placement of classroom education materials highlighting beef's nutrient benefits.

The target audience for the youth education program was chosen by a Youth Strategic Planning Task Force, made up of cattle producers. This group strongly recommended that a focus be kept on young people because they are not only future consumers, but consumers with a huge influence over what their moms serve for dinner.

"Our relationship with Sasha has been very valuable to our industry, and we're pleased to have had such an outstanding young person associated with beef," said Gary Sharp, a South Dakota beef producer and chairman of the Joint Youth Education and Information Subcommittee. ©