Comprehensive Beef Education Strategic Planning Conference

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/> Rationale Continued production of beef to meet increasing demands for high quality protein for human consumption depends on increasing the number of individuals educated in production of beef. For the future, individuals in beef production must receive a comprehensive education emphasizing food safety, genomics and how to develop sustainable beef production while considering ecosystem health and animal well being. Method A strategic planning conference with an estimated 75 participants from beef educators in partner states, leading employers of college graduates in beef, beef industry, college administration, and beef educators from non-partner Universities will be conducted. Partner states are Nebraska, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Washington. Each participant will be expected to have a vested interest in the recruitment and
education of students who are knowledgeable regarding these targeted educational areas of importance associated with future beef education including food safety, genomics, animal welfare, and ecosystems health. OutComes/Impacts Planning conference participants will increase their awareness of educational outcomes and educational resources needed to merge targeted areas of food safety, genomics, animal welfare and ecosystems health education into traditional beef production centered courses. Conference participants will also more clearly identify nationwide knowledge gaps within the targeted educational areas therefore facilitating the merger of future educational and research efforts in a comprehensive beef education program.
<p>APPROACH:<br/> Multi-State Strategic Planning Conference Beef educators from the 5 partner states will attend the conference. The project leadership team will identify 5 significant industry leaders who either employ or represent employers of college graduates in the beef industry and have a vested interest in the recruitment and education of students who are knowledgeable regarding these non-traditional disciplines associated with beef production science (food safety, animal welfare, ecosystems health, and genomics). The general agenda for the conference will be include pre-conference and post-conference assignments integrated via electronic media. During the action planning phase of the conference, teams will be formed to develop strategies for submission of funding needed educational resources identified during the planning process. A collaborative agreement will be
established to provide a mechanism for developing a LCI project proposal working in cooperation with other schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, junior colleges, units of state government, and private sector organizations. Evaluation of the conference will include the implementation of several evaluation instruments designed to measure participant awareness, interest, learning gain, and considerations for future activities within the Comprehensive Beef Education program. This evaluation strategy is focused on short-term and long-term outcomes designed to collect data from conference participants to determine the scope and sequence of next steps involved in future efforts within the beef education program. Instruments used will be reviewed by a panel of experts for face and content validity. There will be two data collect points within the project. Data collect point one
will center on pre- and post-conference in November 2012. Pre-conference efforts will be implemented to collect and assess data from participants prior to their arrival at the conference. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected through the participants during the conference activities, and post-conference data collection will be implemented to determine the foundational component of the strategic plan. Data collection point two will involve a comprehensive assessment of past efforts and plans designed to contribute to the development of a LCI proposal and how beef contributes to meeting the food consumption needs of a human population that is rapidly growing.
<p>PROGRESS: 2011/09 TO 2012/08<br/>OUTPUTS: Activities Three surveys were conducted. A survey of recent graduates from the state partner beef education programs was conducted to identify gaps in the courses completed in their program. A second survey of employers in each of the partner states was conducted to gather information about preparation of graduates from the state partner programs. The third survey was a post-conference survey of participants. Also,each partner also completed a SWOT analysis of their institution's beef education program. Events One major event was conducted.On December 5 and 6, 2011, a strategic planning conference for comprehensive beef education was held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus. The general purpose of the conference was to gather beef academics and professionals in the beef industry and collaborate to develop a new
and innovative way to enhance beef education and foster partnerships to implement innovations. Twenty-five beef educators and professionals attended the two-day conference. Products A.Five comprehensive beef education models were conceptualized. The key components of each model were: 1. Curriculum Models must start with the concept of guiding principles (life skills) incorporated throughout the curriculum and then students must be able to: find facts, research findings, appreciate discovery and make application. 2. Students need to communicate well and defend their position within the areas that we have designated: food safety, ecosystems health, genomics and animal welfare. 3. Five major comprehensive beef education components evolved: a.)Freshman seminar concepts - "how to be a student" b.)Faculty Development for integration of life skills through curriculum. c.)Two level beef
production classes d.)Internships B. Preliminary commitments of all participants were made to collaborate in the development of the components. Dissemination A. The major outreach activity was to reach out to beef professionals and involve them in the development of new innovative beef education models. Representatives of major affiliated groups associated with the beef industry participated in the conference. B. The results of the surveys and the conference were disseminated by presentations at the 2012 NACTA Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Larry Berger UNL Marvel L. Baker Head of the Department of Animal Science Dr. Don Boggs KSU Associate Dean for Academic Programs for the College of Agriculture Dr. Steve Boyles OSU Associate Professor & Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Dennis Brink UNL Professor Dr. Kelly Bruns SDSU Professor Dr. Darrh Bullock UK Extension Professor, Beef Cattle Genetics
Dr. Dennis Burson UNL Professor Dr. Andrea Cupp UNL Professor Dr. Tom Field UNL Director Engler Entrepreneurship Program Dr. Ronnie Green UNL Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr. Dann Husmann UNL Professor (ALEC) & Associate Dean (CASNR) Dr. Blaine Jenschke Wichita, KS Cargill Meat Solutions R&D Dr. Terry Klopfenstein UNL Professor Jared Knock SDSU Producer Dr. Brad Lubben UNL Assistant Professor & Extension Public Policy Spec. Dr. John Pollak Clay Center, NE Center Director of the U.S. MARC Dr. Daniel Poole NCSU Assistant Professor Dr. Rick Rasby UNL Professor & Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Bryan Reiling UNL Associate Professor Dr. Sandy Smart SDSU Professor Dr. Matt Spangler UNL Assistant Professor & Beef Genetics Extension Spec. Heather Stewart UNL ALEC PhD Candidate and HEC Project Coordinator Burke Teichert Orem, UT Former GM & VP AgReserves,
Inc., and Columnist for BEEF Dr. Abe Turgeon Salina, KS Koers-Turgeon Consulting TARGET AUDIENCES: The audience for this project is beef educators. The project engages individuals in beef education from the Universities of Nebraska, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Ohio State, South Dakota State, and Washington State working in conjunction with employers in the beef industry. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The major change is the time-line. The strategic planning conference was held in December of 2011 in hopes of developing the LCI a year earlier than planned so if not funded improvements could be made and the 2013 submission improved. But, with the initial uncertainty in the avaiablity and timeline for request for proposals for 2012 a proposal for 2012 was not submitted.