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Meat Science Team Claims Historic National Sweepstakes Title

The Meat Science Team made program history by earning Sweepstakes Champion honors at the American Cured Meat Championships, held during the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Competing in the largest university division in the history of the contest, WT became the first university from Texas to win the national Sweepstakes Championship. The team received the prestigious revolving university plaque, which will be displayed on campus for the next year.

Team members included Maddy Henson, Helene Keiser, Stephanie Taylor, Samantha Taylor, Caleb Spear, Cayden Beatty and Kade Lawrence, under the direction of advisor and coach Dr. Trent Schwartz.

Each student entered a fresh bratwurst and a cured specialty meat product in the university competition. The team earned several individual product awards, including:

Reserve Grand Champion - Cured Specialty Division (Calabrese Salami)
Reserve Champion - Cured Specialty Division (Smoked Chicken Sausage)
5th Place - Cured Specialty Division (Cured Beef Tongue)
5th Place - Bratwurst Division (Fresh Bratwurst)

In addition to competing, WT students helped facilitate the professional processors' competition, which featured 644 products from 51 meat processors across the country. Schwartz also served as a professional judge, evaluating entries in the Specialty Cured Wild Game Meats, Large Diameter Luncheon Meats and Frankfurters categories.

The national championship highlights the continued excellence of WTAMU's Meat Science program and its commitment to providing students with hands-on industry experience and national-level competition opportunities.

Recruitment Trip to Texas FFA State Convention

Faculty and students from the Department of Agricultural Sciences traveled to Fort Worth to recruit during the 98th Texas FFA State Convention held July 6-July 10. The convention welcomed more than 16,000 FFA members from across Texas, providing an opportunity for WT to connect with future Buffs and share academic programs within the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

Faculty who attended include Dr. Tanner Robertson, professor of Agricultural Media & Communication; Dr. Nate Wolf, professor of Agricultural Education and Leadership; Dr. Kevin Williams, professor of Agricultural Education; and Dr. Lauren Pool, Professor of Agriculture.

Students who attended include Graham Wristers, Agricultural Media & Communication major; Zach Rich, Agricultural Education graduate student; Cayden Hodnett, Agricultural Education major; Rylee McKinney, Animal Science graduate student; Campbell Offield, Agricultural Education graduate student; Emily Montgomery, Agricultural Education graduate student; Mary Vivian Ivey, Agricultural Media & Communication major; Abbigayle Smith, Agricultural Media & Communication major; and Simone Allen, Agricultural Business & Economics graduate student.

Agricultural Sciences Alumnus Shares Industry Expertise with Students

Department of Agricultural Sciences alumnus Ed Wright recently returned to West Texas A&M University to speak with students in Dr. Vestal's Futures and Options course, sharing insights from his distinguished career in the Texas cattle industry.

A 1970 graduate of West Texas State University, Wright connected classroom concepts to real-world applications, offering students a firsthand perspective on agricultural markets, risk management and the importance of sound decision-making in the livestock industry.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to learn from an accomplished industry leader with deep ties to the University. The Department of Agricultural Sciences is grateful to Wright for investing his time and expertise in helping prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals.

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