AMSA Leadership

Dr. Lyda G. Garcia is an assistant professor, and extension meat specialist, at The Ohio State University. She joined the Department of Animal Sciences in February 2015. Raised in a rural south Texas town (Hebbronville, TX) just 40 miles east of the Texas-Mexico border and ninety miles from the Gulf of Mexico, she was constantly involved in various areas of livestock. Raised by a cowboy and a public-school teacher, Dr. Garcia developed a technique to relay her passion for agriculture and higher education inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Garcia is responsible for teaching undergraduate courses in meat science (introduction to meat science, harvest and fabrication, processed meats, and meat carcass evaluation) and advises undergraduate Meat Science students.  Dr. Garcia is highly involved in presenting at workshops, clinics, and conferences on meat science, specifically targeting youth and livestock producers in the state of Ohio. In addition, Dr. Garcia serves as carcass judge for county Carcass Shows in the state. She has participated in the Ohio State Fair skillathon and has partnered with the Ohio Beef Council demonstrating beef cuts and palatability in a culinary setting. Dr. Garcia has gone as far as breaking down sides of beef and pork for local producers and youth, impacts of livestock practices on meat quality as well as explaining where meat cuts originate followed with proper cooking method. Through her Extension work, Dr. Garcia assists in recruitment efforts into agriculture, specifically animal and meat science. Finally, Dr. Garcia aids agriculture in Ohio as a Spanish interpreter. Dr. Garcia believes it is critical to provide a Spanish speaker equal opportunity in cases involving a workforce who speaks Spanish. Dr. Garcia also serves as faculty advisor for the Meat Science Club and coordinates, and supervises, the Meat Judging Team.