WT Meat Science Students Bring Home Cured Meat Sweepstakes Award

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - For the first time in school history, West Texas A&M University's meat science team won sweepstakes at the American Cured Meat Championships.

The team competed July 9 to 11 during the American Association of Meat Processors conference in Milwaukee.

In addition to winning sweepstakes, the WT team was named reserve grand champion for its calabrese salami, reserve champion for its smoked chicken sausage and fifth for its cured beef tongue, all in the cured specialty division; and fifth for its fresh bratwurst in the bratwurst division.

"I am incredibly proud of how hard our students worked to develop and prepare products for this prestigious event," said Dr. Trent Schwartz, assistant professor of meat science in WT's Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. "They represented WT at the highest level and were rewarded for the countless hours they devoted to this competition."

Students began developing their products four months ago, then after extensive research and development, including taste testing, made their final products in the three weeks leading up to the competition.

As part of its pursuit of the sweepstakes in the university division, students help facilitate the contest's processor division, in which 51 processors nationwide submitted 644 products. Students helped check in, tag and disperse products, then assisted judges and even offered feedback on products, Schwartz said.

A traveling plaque will be displayed at WT for the next year. Not only was this the first time a WT team won sweepstakes, but the University's team also was the first from Texas to take home the prize, Schwartz said.

Team members include Cayden Beatty, a junior animal science major from Burnet; Lukas Busby, a junior animal science major from Winnsboro; Madeline Henson, a graduate student in animal science from Clovis, California; Helene Keiser, a graduate student in animal science from Gothenburg, Nebraska; Kade Lawrence, a senior animal science and agricultural business and economics major from Canyon; Caleb Spear, a senior animal science major from Clovis, New Mexico; Samantha Taylor, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from College Station; and Stephanie Taylor, a sophomore animal science major from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Such competition is one way in which WT creates in its students a commitment to being self-reliant, courageous, resourceful and part of something larger than one's self, as laid out in the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University meat science students brought home a sweepstakes trophy from the American Cured Meat Championships following competition July 9 to 11. Pictured are, from left, Stephanie Taylor, Samantha Taylor, Lukas Busby, Cayden Beatty, Helene Keiser, Madeline Henson, Caleb Spear, Kade Lawrence and coach Dr. Trent Schwartz.

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