Wednesday, June 19, 2024

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Final General Session and 2025 RMC Welcome Video

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Keynote Presentation - Celebrating Science
Sponsored by JBS/Pilgrim’s
Session proceedings recording funded by the Beef Checkoff

Are you ready to restore trust in science and improve the public’s understanding about meat relative to agriculture and to human nutrition? Attend the AMSA 77th RMC on Wednesday, June 19th, and experience a compelling keynote address that will encourage you to explore the significance of human connection and emphasize the importance of scientists' involvement. You’ll learn how to better guide discussions in your work, outside of agriculture, and with consumers through translating science in a more meaningful way. Michele Payn, CSP, connects the people of food and farming with science as principal of Cause Matters Corp. She is known for being a community catalyst, a passionate advocate for global agriculture and touching hearts to move minds. Michele has worked with farmers in more than 25 countries, raised millions of dollars for 4-H & FFA, and coached scientists on communication. She is the author of three other award-winning books: Food Bullying, Food Truths from Farm to Table, and No More Food Fights and recently launched a science communication project called Science Story Speak. She also co-hosts the Food Bullying podcast to help connect agriculture and nutrition. Michele's degrees are in Agricultural Communications and Animal Science from Michigan State University. She has earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation, awarded to less than 10% of professional speakers globally. She resides with her 'city slicker' husband and cow-loving daughter on a small farm in central Indiana. She enjoys Registered Holsteins, the MSU Spartans, and making memories with friends around the table. Michele connects farms and food, brains, and behavior, at www.causematters.com and on social media as @mpaynspeaker.

Speaker:  Michele Payn, Cause Matters Corp.

9:30 AM-11:15 AM
Workshop: Teaching and Education
Sponsored by JBS/Pilgrim’s
Session proceedings recording funded by the Beef Checkoff
Moderator:  Amanda McKeith, Ph.D., California State University-Fresno

Exploring Pathways: Guiding Students through Meat Industry Study Tours
 Experienced faculty will share their insights on setting up meat industry tours for students. Whether you want to expand pre-RMC tours from your location or develop an independent course, hear tips to develop a meat industry tour course. Faculty will share best practices for making contacts, budgeting, developing schedules, assessing learning outcomes, and troubleshooting.

Speakers: Andrea Garmyn, Ph.D., Michigan State University, John Henson, Ph.D., California State University-Fresno, and Gary Sullivan, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Creating Workforce Awareness through Business and Education Partnerships
Are you interested in exploring education-business partnerships to influence exposure to career opportunities in your industry?

During this session, you will hear about real-life success stories and insider tips to help you build relationships that will make education more relevant in your community and stimulate pathways for your local workforce. This session is beneficial for business and industry professionals in all roles. It will inform and guide you to make beneficial partnerships with your local education systems through workforce development activities. Nate, a certified economic development professional embedded in education, has the expertise and experience to bridge these worlds and create opportunities in communities of all sizes.

Speaker: Nate Clayberg, CEcD, CAPS Network

9:45 AM-11:45 AM
Workshop: Hot Topics, A Look At Key Issues You Need To Know
Sponsored by Empirical Foods
Session proceedings recording funded by the Beef Checkoff
Moderator: Betsy Booren, Ph.D., Tyson Foods, Inc.

Join us as we review the topics below and discuss current updates, anticipated issues, future action and the long-term impact on the industry.

  • Live Animal Updates: HPAI and Gene Editing
    • KatieRose McCullough, Ph.D., Meat Institute  and Clay Eastwood, Ph.D., PIC
  • Sustainability Measures: How they are calculated?  Which ones to use? Future research needs?
    • Speaker: Cheyenne McEndaffer, Eocene Environmental Group
  • Meat Regulations: Pathogens, Labeling Claims, Inspection and Animal Welfare 
    • Speaker: KatieRose McCullough, Ph.D., Meat Institute
  • Nitrates/Nitrites: Global Efforts to Impact their Use
    • Speakers: Declan Troy, Teagasc Food Research Centre and Jeff Sindelar, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

9:45 AM-11:45 AM
Workshop: Communicating Science Through Storytelling: How to Make Meat Matter
Sponsored by Midan Marketing
Session proceedings recording funded by the Beef Checkoff
Moderator: Christi Calhoun, Ph.D., American Meat Science Association

Can you speak the same language as consumers? Are you able to translate science to different audiences? This interactive workshop will help you have more meaningful conversations about meat and protein by providing context through story and creating connections in uncomfortable places.

You’ll go home with:
• Techniques to build trust in scientists through hot buttons
• Ways to address contentious issues without dumping data
• Tactics to help you communicate more effectively, particularly about meat as a nutritional powerhouse

Speaker: Michele Payn, Cause Matters Corp.

11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Workshop: Improving Your Grant Applications, A Discussion of Successful Proposals and the Review Process
Sponsored by Cargill
Session proceedings recording funded by the Beef Checkoff
Moderator: Rob Maddock, Ph.D., American Meat Science Association

Writing successful proposals is an essential task for most academic meat scientists and others. A review of funded projects encompassing foundational, integrated, and training projects by AMSA members and a look into the review process will provide you with tools to improve your odds of successfully being funded.

Speakers: Deb Hamernik, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Anna Dilger, Ph.D., University of Illinois; Amand Blair, Ph.D., South Dakota State University and West River Agricultural Center; and Tanner Machado, Ph.D., Texas A&M Kingsville

$25 registration fee for lunch provided during this session.