Beginning Jan. 9, 2012, $1,000 in Beef Bucks—pre-paid checks and or VISA® debit card for purchasing beef at restaurants or grocery stores—will appear as one of the gift tags on the colorful carnival wheel that contestants spin for prizes during the popular nationally syndicated program. Landing a spot for Beef Bucks on the well-known Wheel of Fortune was an effort in tenacity and dedication for the people who direct Beef Bucks, Inc., the non-profit South Dakota-based organization whose primary purpose is to promote beef and educate consumers on beef nutrition and cooking.

“We were pretty excited when we received the call in August from the people at Wheel of Fortune,” said Bob Montross, beef producer, farmer and one of the eight Beef Bucks, Inc. directors. “They told us that our Beef Bucks had been selected as one of the gift tags contestants can win. We knew then that we had made the big time.”

Montross said the effort to get Beef Bucks accepted as one of the gift tags began almost two years ago as he watched an episode of the longest-running syndicated game show in U.S. television history. “I thought, ‘If we could get Beef Bucks as a prize on Wheel of Fortune, we could be promoting beef to millions across the country’,” recalls Montross. Several persuasive phone calls and e-mails later, he was supplying the Wheel of Fortune producers with both the official Beef Bucks logo to be placed on the large wheel and a commitment to provide $1,000 worth of the beef-buying currency for any contestant who lands on the Beef Bucks tag on up to three separate shows.

Getting Beef Bucks on Wheel of Fortune is certainly a coup for this organization that began in 1997 in the small South Dakota town of De Smet. However, those who know the people involved with Beef Bucks, including Bob and his wife Nancy, are not surprised. “Bob and Nancy Montross are the ‘Ambassadors of Beef’,” said Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota. “No one anywhere has ever done a better job of promoting beef. I am thrilled, but certainly not surprised, that Wheel of Fortune is now part of their efforts. I fully expect that some President, some day, will include Beef Bucks in their ‘State of the Union’ message, too.”

How you can participate

Win one of four prizes, each includes a $25 Beef Buck, a set of stainless steel steak knives and a “BEEF RECIPE COLLECTION” cookbook.  Just submit a beef appetizer recipe that you may use while watching Wheel of Fortune the week of Jan. 9, 2012 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.

“Beef Bucks” will be a gift tag on the Wheel those nights worth $1,000 in Beef Bucks to a lucky winner.  Why not invite your friends and neighbors over for a “viewing party” and serve beef appetizers!

To have your recipe in the drawing, just submit it on the Beef Bucks website, via the Contact form, or mail it to Beef Bucks, Inc., 20732 436th Ave, De Smet, SD  57231 before November 1st.  A random drawing of the recipes will be held to select the four winners.

All submitted recipes may be subject to publication.