The Arizona Beef Council brought the power of beef education directly to nearly 170 school nutrition professionals at the School Nutrition Association of Arizona's 69th Annual State Conference on November 8, 2025. Held at the Phoenix Convention Center, this dynamic event showcased the strength of industry partnerships and the growing demand for practical, beef-focused resources in Arizona's schools. 

About the School Nutrition Association of Arizona 
The School Nutrition Association of Arizona (SNAAZ) serves as the state affiliate of the national School Nutrition Association, representing more than 55,000 individuals committed to child nutrition across the country. In Arizona alone, SNAAZ boasts over 1,000 members dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost meals to students throughout the state. The organization's mission centers on empowering and supporting school nutrition professionals in advancing the accessibility, quality, and integrity of school meal programs. Through conferences, workshops, professional development opportunities, and advocacy efforts, SNAAZ works tirelessly to ensure that Arizona's students receive the nourishment they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. 

Featured Speaker: Juan Zamorano 
This year's conference spotlight shone on Juan Zamorano, Food Services Program Specialist at San Diego Unified School District, who traveled to Arizona to share his frontline expertise with fellow school nutrition professionals. Zamorano delivered an engaging presentation covering topics vital to modern school food service operations, including the implementation of beef in K-12 settings, scratch cooking techniques, and the integration of cutting-edge technology into school cafeterias and nutrition programs. 

What set Zamorano's presentation apart was his delivery entirely in Spanish, opening doors for a broader and more diverse audience of school nutrition professionals to engage fully with the material. This Spanish-language track aligned perfectly with SNAAZ's commitment to offering accessible education for all attendees. His sessions, titled "Aprovechar La Tecnología Para Aumentar La Productividad Y La Calidad De Los Alimentos Con Prácticas Estandarizadas" (Leveraging Technology to Increase Productivity and Food Quality with Standardized Practices) and "Planificación E Introducción De Productos De Carne De Res En Una Operación K-12" (Planning and Introduction of Beef Products in a K-12 Operation), drew approximately 85 enthusiastic attendees to each session—a clear sign of the strong appetite for this kind of hands-on, practical education among Arizona's school nutrition community. 

Booth Presence and Resources
Beyond the educational sessions, the Arizona Beef Council made its presence felt with an exhibit booth that buzzed with activity throughout the conference. Approximately 345 attendees had the opportunity to stop by to sample Jack Link's beef jerky and pick up a school food service recipe card featuring a mouthwatering Beef and Broccoli recipe—a practical, ready-to-use resource designed to spark menu innovation in school cafeterias across Arizona. 

Looking Ahead
The Arizona Beef Council's successful participation in the SNAAZ 69th Annual State Conference underscores its ongoing commitment to supporting school nutrition professionals and championing beef as a nutritious, versatile, and delicious protein option for students. By delivering education on scratch cooking, technology integration, and real-world implementation strategies, the beef industry is helping ensure that Arizona's schoolchildren enjoy wholesome, satisfying meals that fuel their learning, growth, and success.

The Nutrition Seminar Program
The Arizona Beef Council's participation in this conference was partially made possible through the Nutrition Seminar Program, which partners with State Beef Councils to bring influential, credentialed health and nutrition experts to state-wide meetings and conferences. This Beef Checkoff-funded program covers speaker travel expenses, honorarium, and presentation materials, empowering states to access high-quality educational content that might otherwise be out of reach. With a wide range of topics and speakers available, the program can be tailored to meet each state's unique needs and priorities.   

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About the Arizona Beef Council   
The Arizona Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors representing cattle growers, cattle feeders, and dairy farmers, and are appointed by the Governor of Arizona. These volunteers oversee the Beef Checkoff and Checkoff-funded programs.   

Kansas and Nebraska Beef Councils
This program was made possible with the support of the Kansas and Nebraska Beef Councils.

About the Beef Checkoff Program
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. For more information, visit BeefBoard.org.