Videos

Faces of the Federation: Jeri Moniz

For more than 60 years, grassroots producer engagement has driven the demand for beef through the Federation of State Beef Councils. States voluntarily invest in the Federation to build beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership.

Ultimately, it is cattle producers from coast to coast who are directing the Federation’s work, and we celebrate their dedication. Meet Jeri Moniz, one of the “Faces of the Federation.”

Kapa Hale

Chef Keaka Lee trained and worked at some of the best restaurants in New York City before returning home to Honolulu, Hawai’i to open Kapa Hale with his wife Heather in 2020. Working with local farmers and ranchers, Kape Hale’s menu fuses hyper local ingredients with traditional Hawaiian flavors to create a dining experience like no other in the Waialae-Kahala neighborhood.

The Local General Store

Jason Chow didn’t intend to become a butcher. In fact, he went to school for marine biology. Things changed, however, when he couldn’t find any local beef or steaks from Hawaiian ranches at the grocery store. He better change, he thought. The rest, as they say, is history.

Jason and his wife Harley opened The Local General Store in Honolulu, Hawai’i just over a year ago. The half butcher shop, half bakery model has been a hit with consumers. Working exclusively with local farmers and ranchers, like Griffith Livestock, The Local General Store is a place you go for quality beef, delicious sandwiches, pastries and a local shopping experience you can’t find everywhere.

SC Ranch

Meet the Stevens Family of SC Ranch.

Located on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island – the highest point in all of Hawai’i – SC Ranch is a unique operation. Not only does the ranch span over 4,000 feet of elevation gain between the lowest point of the property to the highest, Charles and Vanessa keep 100% of their beef in Hawaii. As Charles puts it “born local, staying local and feeding local people.”

McCandless Ranch

Meet the Unger family of McCandless Ranch.

Located on the Big Island, just south of Kona, McCandless Ranch has been in Cynda Unger’s family for six generations. She along with her husband Keith manage it today. Nestled along the Pacific Ocean on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the Unger’s and their team of paniolo run their cattle and work to preserve the land.

Griffith Livestock

Meet the Griffith Family of Griffith Livestock.

While many cattle ranches are located away from urban areas, Dustin and Bobbie Jo Griffith have several properties within residential neighborhoods making the importance of land management and community involvement is at the forefront of the Griffith’s ranching philosophy. How they manage their cattle and grazing pastures directly affects their neighbors and fire prevention success.

Haleakala Ranch

Haleakala Ranch, in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii, has been selected as one of six regional honorees of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Owned by the Baldwin family for nearly six generations, Haleakala Ranch is a family held corporation with about 100 shareholders that are all family members. The ranch covers nearly 30,000 acres on the island of Maui.

Kualoa Ranch

Environmental Stewardship Award - Region VI Winner - Kualoa Ranch - Ka'a'awa, O'ahu, Hawaii.

Waimea Butcher SHop

A kid from the mainland who moved to Hawai’i over 20 years ago to work with farms and ranches, Mills and his wife Kamalei opened the Waimea Butcher Shop in 2016. Beginning exclusively as a butcher shop, Mill’s has expanded the shop’s offerings over the years to include a full menu, house-made charcuterie, specialty cuts, weekly specials and one heck of a burger.

Sourcing and utilizing all locally raised and grown beef, produce and ingredients, the Waimea Butcher Shop’s emphasis on “local” sets them apart from other establishments. If you’re heading to the Big Island any time soon, be sure to check them out.