The Minnesota Beef Council has announced that applications for the ‘Top of the Class’ leadership program are now open.

Kelly Schmidt, CEO of the Minnesota Beef Council, says that the program offers participants of all ages and backgrounds a chance to see the entire beef supply chain and grow their communication skills.

“From packing plants to other further processers, food service and restaurant trainings, we have a lot of different partners that help us do that…” Schmidt said. “We spend some time at the University of Minnesota meat lab where the meat science professors there help them break down a carcass.”

And that’s just a brief look at the first learning session for the program in October, according to Schmidt. In January the participants take a trip to Colorado to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation office for more media and industry training as well as beef-focused tours. The final session in March takes the group to the Minnesota state capitol for an experience in policy.

The 2025-26 program applications are due on September 4, 2025.  For more information visit 2025-top-of-the-class-application_1.pdf.