University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Department of Animal Sciences (ANS) students and faculty brought home gold from the 2022 American Meat Science Association Reciprocal Meats Conference (AMS RMC).
The 2022 AMSA RMC Conference was held in Des Moines, Iowa from June 11-15. The conference features several collegiate events, serves as an opportunity for networking, and is an opportunity for scientists in this field to connect and share their research.
This year, ANS was well represented and recognized on several different levels. UF Animal Sciences Professor Chad Carr was named the Distinguished Teacher Award Recipient.
The team of ANS students Elizabeth Chmielewski, Stephanie Shimer, Emma Lipori, and Douglas Natoce won the Undergraduate Meat Science Quiz Bowl for the first time in history. They clinched the title on the final question against Texas Tech University. The team was coached by ANS graduate students Gabrielle Allen and Michael Fioretto. Bia Castanho and Kevin Martinez teamed up with two students from the University of Wyoming in their first try at quiz bowl. The two said they are motivated to go back to win the title themselves.
UF ANS student Elizabeth Chmielewski placed first in the undergraduate research competition, and she was one of six students recognized with the undergraduate scholastic achievement award. Elizabeth presented research on the surface color variation between Angus and Brahman longissimus lumborum muscle and will continue her research in graduate school with Dr. Tracy Scheffler after the completion of her internship this summer.
UF ANS undergraduate students Kevin Martinez and Douglas Natoce were part of the champion Iron Chef team. Participants were randomly assigned teams and partnered with industry experts to develop a dish using the mystery meat ingredient. This year’s ingredient was the flat iron steak, a cut developed through collaborative research between the University of Florida and University of Nebraska.
Graduate student Gabby Allen was a member of the champion charcuterie board team.
Undergraduate student Stephanie Shimer was 10th high point individual in the Processed Meat Judging Competition.
The t-shirt designed by Douglas Natoce was selected as the people’s choice. The AMSA Student Board has a T-shirt design contest and auction to raise money to support student activities.
UF ANS students who attend this conference also have the unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of the industry through more than scientific talks and presentations. On the way to the conference, ANS lecturers Kyle Mendes and Amie Imler arranged for students to attend multiple industry related tours.
Stops included Pilgrim’s in Live Oak, Florida, Thompson Farms in Dixie, Georgia, Elk Cave Farm in Danville, Kentucky, Wilderness Trail in Danville, Kentucky, La Quercia Cured Meats in Norwalk, Iowa, and the United States Department of Agriculture National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. Students were also able to visit The Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa as a fun stop.
Supporting research and professional development is one of the many goals of the UF/IFAS ANS Department. Any questions should be directed to Shelby O. Thomas at 352-392-1916 or soesterreicher@ufl.edu. For more information about the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, please visit https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/. Be sure to follow us on social @UF_ANSCI. To read more stories like this one visit https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/animalsciencesdept/.
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