Joe Roybal, editor of BEEF magazine was named the 2002 Ambassador by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) July 12 in Omaha. The prestigious honor is given to a member of the media each year for their efforts in helping cattle producers understand cattle performance testing and genetic prediction tools.

Roybal, considered an "editor’s editor" among his peers, is an award winning livestock writer and photographer who became the second editor BEEF magazine has ever had in 1993; he’d already been part of the magazine’s editorial and management team since 1985. Prior to that the South Dakota Native was editor of Feedlot Magazine, managing editor of Dairy Herd Management, and a bureau news writer.

Along with his journalistic achievements, Roybal also has a long list of industry leadership under his belt. Currently, he serves as second vice-president of the Livestock Publications Council and is the incoming chairman of the Agricultural Publications Summit.