The day started off with an extensive tour of JBS’s beef packing plant in Greeley, Colorado. The group consisted of 60+ beef producers across the state of Colorado and Wyoming. We were divided up into 6 groups and toured the whole facility, from the coolers to the fab floor. Dr. Swyers was noted in saying, “For many years I have wanted to give the beef producers who I work with the opportunity to go through a big commercial packing plant.” All had a front row seat to see what happens to the beef we produce as it is processed into branded product for the consumer.

After the tour of the JBS packing plant, the group assembled at CSU’s brand new CoBank Center for Ag Education located at ARDEC (Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center) for lunch and for presentations by Dr. Woerner of Colorado State University. Dr. Gary Tibbets of ZinPro Performance Minerals, and Don Anderson of Elanco. We were fed an incredible steak dinner prepared by a member of CSU’s Meats Judging Team and sponsored by Elanco and ZinPro Performance Minerals. The Meats Judging program at CSU uses these catering opportunities to raise money to fund travel to attend all of their competitions across the United States.

After lunch, we all stepped back into the classroom. Dr. Woerner gave an interactive steak tasting panel and discussion on grading, tenderness, flavor and eating experience presentation. Dr. Woerner’s driving point of the discussion was how can we as beef producers better differentiate the beef we produce and provide a “top shelf” eating experience for our beef consumers. Discussion questions were entrained and the attendees were involved in topics of the industry. Dr. Woerner’s presentation was a wild success and everyone in the room left with a new perspective on how we can influence the eating experience in every bite!

We also had presentations and discussions from Dr. Gary Tibbets of ZinPro Performance Minerals on their program StepUp – Lameness Prevention Program and Don Anderson of Elanco on hoof health and foot rot prevention.

Thank you to Colorado State University, and sponsors, ZinPro Performance Minerals, Elanco and Grassland Nutrition for the very educational day learning more about the beef industry and how to better ourselves as producers.