A portion of the undergraduate selection criteria was based on an essay to, “Describe the variety of branded beef programs in today’s marketplace and how they help or hinder the consumer.”

Among a variety of perspectives, the $5,000 undergraduate winner Loni Woolley wrote, “The average consumer wants to feel good about the purchase of a branded product.” Those may tout taste, tenderness, organic, antibiotic-free, grass-fed or any number of attributes.

“Brands allow consumers to choose which of those traits appeal to them and most fit their lifestyle,” she wrote. Once they find that fit, “they will become a repeat buyer that relies on the excellence of that particular brand.”

The Texas Tech University (TTU) senior in animal science, meat business emphasis, plans to continue the meat science education in graduate school there. Woolley, Block and Bridle president and member of the American Meat Science Association, was part of the TTU 2011 National Champion Livestock Judging Team.

Meghan Blythe, a junior in agriculture economics at Kansas State University, expanded that field all the way to Brazil in January and will study international animal science and agribusiness in China this May.

The president of Kansas Junior Angus Association and board director of the National Junior Angus Association was awarded a $4,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Bailey Harsh is an Ohio State University (OSU) junior in both agriculture communications and animal science with a meat science emphasis. She is an OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Ambassador and member of the OSU Meats Judging Team.

After earning a graduate degree in agriculture communications, Harsh plans to work in agricultural public policy. She received a $3,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Lindsey Grimes, a junior at the Ohio State University in animal science with an emphasis in meat science, earned the $2,000 Colvin Scholarship award and hopes to obtain a master’s degree in meat science at KSU.

In December 2010, Grimes studied human and animal interactions in New Zealand. She is a foundation director for the National Junior Angus Association Board, an OSU CFAES ambassador, and committee chairman for OSU Saddle & Sirloin Club.

Wyatt Bechtel, senior in agricultural communications and journalism at KSU, is the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) editor and a partner in his family’s commercial cow-calf and stocker cattle operations. Upon graduation, the $1,000 Colvin Scholarship winner plans to work in the communications field for the beef industry.

Faith Jurek, TTU agricultural communications major, hopes to move on to graduate school in meat science there after graduation in December 2012. Jurek is the president of the university’s ACT club and the agricultural council representative for the TTU Meat Science Association.

Last summer, she competed in the Australian International Meat Judging Contest and gained a global perspective of the beef industry. She received a $1,000 Colvin Scholarship.

Rebecca Acheson is the $5,000 graduate-level Colvin Scholarship recipient, and was a top undergraduate scholarship winner in 2008. She conducts doctorate-level research at Colorado State University in the area of beef cut nutrition.

As consumer dietary concerns continue to increase, “it will be essential that branded beef programs add a nutritional side to their marketing plan,” wrote Acheson, describing the benefits her research will have on high-quality beef production.

“This project has been designed to encompass all parts of our industry, which includes companies that produce the highest-quality beef.” When her work is completed, the public will have nutritional information for “every cut of beef from the Select to upper-two-thirds Choice quality grades.”

Following graduation in August 2013, Acheson plans to work in beef research and development, and become an active spokesperson for the beef industry.

The CAB Annual Conference golf outing and auction raise these Colvin Scholarship funds. Top undergraduate and graduate recipients win all-expense-paid trips to the 2012 Annual Conference in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, where they can interact with leaders throughout the production, packing, retail and foodservice industries.

The CAB brand, owned by nearly 30,000 members of the American Angus Association, works with ranchers across North America to provide consumers with the most consistent, highest-quality beef available. For producer information, visit www.CABpartners.com; or for consumer information, www.certifiedangusbeef.com. 

—Certified Angus Beef press release