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Youth beef leadership symposium captures interest
Nebraska
Career and educational opportunities are plentiful in Nebraska's beef industry, high school students from across the state learned April 19 at the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium.
"Setting the Cornerposts of Tomorrow's Beef Industry" was the theme for the first-ever symposium April 18 to 20, a combined effort of the Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation and University of Nebraska-Lincoln's departments of animal science and agricultural leadership, education and communication.
"There is a future, and it's a bright future," said Chris Calkins, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources meat scientist, who discussed the university's muscle profiling research.
In his talk, Calkins discussed how beef producers can get more profit through value-added products, such as the new beef products developed through muscle profiling.
"The demand for beef chuck, round and trimmings had gone down. So, how do you increase demand for those products?" Calkins asked the group of more than 30 high school students at UNL's Animal Science Complex.
Calkins explained how the muscle profiling research resulted in products including the flat iron steak, which is now consumed nationally and internationally. The new cuts also increased the wholesale value of beef chuck traditionally used for ground beef or roasts.
Ann Marie Bosshamer, marketing director for the Nebraska Beef Council, said the future is beef products that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less.
"Seventy-four percent of meals are prepared in 20 minutes or less," Bosshamer said. "At 4:30 p.m., 73 percent of Americans don't know what they're having for dinner."
Last year an estimated 515 new beef products were introduced in the United States, she said.
"The average woman doesn't want to know how to make a pot roast," Bosshamer said. "With these new products, you can buy a pot roast that can be made in the microwave."
In another presentation, Dave Smith, dairy/beef veterinarian, discussed "Beef Food Safety and Security: Is it in Your Future?" Smith told students about animal diseases of the past and present and new challenges for the future. He focused on E. coli O157:H7 and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
"I hope students with careers in the beef industry will help address these problems," Smith said.
Ashley Steckel, of Taylor, said the information about BSE and E. coli helped her understand how the disease and bacteria is spread and precautions she should take on her family's feedlot and cow/calf operation and in the future.
Steckel, a senior at Loup County High School, hopes to become a veterinarian.
Jesse Corbin, a senior from Arnold, said the symposium helped him to make connections both at the university and in the beef industry.
"Something like this really builds self-confidence and makes you feel better about knowing stuff," he said.
Other presentations and activities on April 19 included an international marketing session, nutrition session, tours of Memorial Stadium and other City and East Campus locations, a beef check-off overview by Sallie Atkins, executive director of the Nebraska Beef Council, and evening banquet. The symposium concluded April 20.
For more information contact Harrell Evans, UNL graduate student and symposium coordinator, at 402-472-4042 or Donald Beermann, head of UNL's animal science department at 402-472-3571.
Date: 5/5/04
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