The South Dakota Beef Industry Council’s Build Your Base with Beef Program has gone national and enlisted a professional athletic endorsement. Former University of South Dakota and now U.S. pole vault champion Chris Nilsen backs the program because nutrition and beef are key to his training regime.

According to Nilsen his coach Derek Miles turned him on to beef as part of a healthy sports nutrition program and its improved his performance.

He says beef is a nutrient dense whole protein that also helps with muscle recovery after practice or a meet.

Nilsen says beef is easy to incorporate into his busy lifestyle as he trains for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.