On June 19, 2016 meat scientists from across the country will gather in San Angelo, Texas — the “Wool and Mohair Capital of the World,” in the virtual epicenter of Texas agriculture. They will be hosted by Angelo State University (ASU) at the AMSA’s 69th Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), focusing on “Cultivating knowledge and diversity true to the spirit of the AMSA RMC” June 19-22, 2016.
“Welcome to a modern day-cattle drive in San Angelo, Texas. We are rounding up the brightest and best meat scientists for the 2016 RMC to bring you a great technical program with a diverse range of topics,” says Dan Schaefer, RMC chairman and vice president of By Products at Cargill.
RMC attendees will not want to miss any of the 69th RMC as it features an interactive technical program tailored to bring attendees the best educational experience. From the opening keynote presentations to the abstract sessions, attendees will hear industry experts discuss some of the newest research.
For the first time in RMC history, the opening keynote presentation will feature the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Rep. David Rouzer (R-North Carolina) as they give attendees an insider’s view of the top priorities facing U.S. legislators in the areas of sustainability, foreign trade, research funding and food safety as the Congressmen address key issues facing the meat industry and the scientific community.
The Tuesday keynote session will not disappoint, as Damian Mason focuses on “Agriculture: Trends, Topics and Tomorrow,” in an intelligent, provocative commentary on the issues affecting the agriculture industry. From growing up on a dairy farm in Indiana to speaking to more than 1,600 audiences in 50 states and eight countries, Mason has a deep understanding of agriculture, as he had his first job at age 8 bottle-feeding calves
The opening keynote presentations will set the stage for the discussion that will take place in the concurrent sessions on industry issues and scientific innovations including recruiting and retaining non-traditional students and employees, natural and clean-label processed meats, transparency with consumers, artisanal meats and food security and sustainability, among other great topics.
Upon completion of the morning sessions, attendees will have a chance to attend afternoon reciprocation and abstract sessions to listen to some of the cutting-edge research taking place in the meat science community. Abstracts presented at the AMSA 69th RMC will cover a variety of topics, including animal welfare, muscle biology, meat safety and quality, as well as meat processing, ingredient technology and packaging.
Over the past several years, RMC attendance has continued to grow, and with that the number of students that attend RMC has surpassed expectations. These students are passionate, engaged and excited about the meat industry and what the future holds. As the student numbers rise, so does their participation in the many events that take place at the annual RMC, including the undergraduate quiz bowl competition, career and networking fair, poster presentation sessions, mentor program and the product development competitions.
From catching up with old friends to connecting with other meat science professionals, RMC is a great networking opportunity.
The faculty, staff and students at Angelo State University and the AMSA RMC planning committee are working hard to make the AMSA 69th RMC a memorable and rewarding experience for all attendees. “It’s all about meat and hopefully you are as excited as I am about RMC in San Angelo, Texas. We have a great technical program and a very diverse venue that will provide a unique perspective on animal agriculture,” says Schaefer. NP
For more information, speaker bios, schedules and details around the technical sessions, please visit: www.meatscience.org/rmc.
