Football season that is!! I am headed back to the great town of Ames this weekend for the Cyclones first game of the 2011 season. After living in Nebraska for a year, there is truly one thing to appreciate about ISU football. It's not the tradition, or the stadium design, it's not the intensity, or in Bo Pelini's case insanity, but one thing I love about ISU football is the tailgating lots!!! We may not have fans that live, eat, sleep, and bathe in Cyclone football (unless you are my friend Matt) but at least we have plenty of green or concrete space to sprawl out and celebrate football season at it's best!! And what better way to do that than heading to your local grocery store to buy beef!
Lucky for beef producers and the general economy, many teams will share their 2011 kickoff with Labor Day weekend. Traditionally Labor Day weekend is the last surge in sales for steakable subprimals such as the Ribeye, Tenderloin, Sirloin, and Strip Loin. I mean realistically what would a football game be without a juicy steak, salads, and cocktails. Orrr if you are still a college student burgers, chips, and beer. Whatever your forte, make sure you include beef in your tailgating menu or final summer grill-out this weekend. If you are interested in intensifying your beef experience, check out Beef It's What's For Dinner for some amazingly simple beef recipes. I promise you won't be let down.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
the beginning to the end
Fellow blog followers, I once again must apologize for the delay in my posts! The last few weeks of August were owned by my younger sister visiting Lincoln, the Iowa State Fair, orienting new grad students to the meat lab, and trying to soak up the last few days of summer. But now that summer has come to an end :( and classes have begun, my increased desk time should allow for me to write more often....hopefully.
This past Monday marked the "last first day of fall classes" for me (I say this optimistically in that my decision not to pursue a PhD will stay true). I must admit it was a bitter sweet moment. There is something about the end of August that makes one giddy about starting school again. I can't really explain what the feeling is or where it comes from. Maybe it's shopping for school supplies, buying new clothes, or seeing old friends again, or now that I think of it all-of-the-above. Whatever the cause is, the effect is tremendous! Although I am only enrolled in one course this fall, I am super pumped to learn about food microbiology (which is really saying something!).
I also have the opportunity to be a Teacher's Assistant for the Animal Biological Systems course. I know I admitted I was pumped about my Food Micro class, but I am simply ecstatic to have the opportunity to teach undergraduates in Animal Science! It should be a fantastic opportunity to interact and impact students that are passionate about the livestock industry. Tomorrow afternoon I will get to actively teach the class as the course professor is out of town for a professional meeting. I am optimistic it will be a perfect opportunity for me to showcase the knowledge I gained from my ALEC course this summer, and have spent a majority of the afternoon lesson planning. I must say I feel fairly prepared for tomorrow's class; I am sure I will stumble through the material....I just hope I don't fall.
Wish me luck!!
This past Monday marked the "last first day of fall classes" for me (I say this optimistically in that my decision not to pursue a PhD will stay true). I must admit it was a bitter sweet moment. There is something about the end of August that makes one giddy about starting school again. I can't really explain what the feeling is or where it comes from. Maybe it's shopping for school supplies, buying new clothes, or seeing old friends again, or now that I think of it all-of-the-above. Whatever the cause is, the effect is tremendous! Although I am only enrolled in one course this fall, I am super pumped to learn about food microbiology (which is really saying something!).
I also have the opportunity to be a Teacher's Assistant for the Animal Biological Systems course. I know I admitted I was pumped about my Food Micro class, but I am simply ecstatic to have the opportunity to teach undergraduates in Animal Science! It should be a fantastic opportunity to interact and impact students that are passionate about the livestock industry. Tomorrow afternoon I will get to actively teach the class as the course professor is out of town for a professional meeting. I am optimistic it will be a perfect opportunity for me to showcase the knowledge I gained from my ALEC course this summer, and have spent a majority of the afternoon lesson planning. I must say I feel fairly prepared for tomorrow's class; I am sure I will stumble through the material....I just hope I don't fall.
Wish me luck!!
Friday, August 5, 2011
hands on experience
Hello fellow blog followers! Sorry I have been absent for a few weeks, but this summer has been absolutely crazy!!! Since my last post I have traveled home for my county fair, visited friends at Lake Okoboji, and completed lots coursework and research on top of that! I never imagined this summer would go by so quickly, but must admit I am excited for classes to start.....maybe I am not ready to graduate quite yet :)
In a university setting, we often have time to hold workshops for students, producers and industry people. This next week we will be hosting a workshop for Intervet and their employees As a part of their workshop, attendees will evaluate both live cattle and beef carcasses, become BQA certified, participate in a taste panel, and much more. I am ecstatic to help with the workshop and more importantly network with professionals in the industry. In preparing for the workshop next week, the meat science group here at UNL needed to harvest four head of steers for one of the sessions. With all professors gone, one grad student busy in the lab, and the other at a conference in Belgium, I was warranted my first opportunity to help with a beef harvest!
Prior to the start of our day, I had announced to the two gentlemen I would be working with I had little harvest experience, but understood the general concept. I knew the day would be a challenge as I consider myself a timid learner. After watching the skill and technique of my colleagues I finally gained confidence to help. We began shortly before 8 am and did not finish cleanup until after 3. Needless to say, my brain was fried and my legs were sore from being on my feet all day. It was such a great experience, and I again must thank both Calvin and Derek for putting up with my "blondeness" as I like to call it.
As I continue to go through grad school and life in general, I feel blessed to have new and exciting opportunities such as this. Whether I gain applicable knowledge, have an engaged experience, or develop an appreciation for people, I feel I always learn something, and in this opportunity I did all three!!
In a university setting, we often have time to hold workshops for students, producers and industry people. This next week we will be hosting a workshop for Intervet and their employees As a part of their workshop, attendees will evaluate both live cattle and beef carcasses, become BQA certified, participate in a taste panel, and much more. I am ecstatic to help with the workshop and more importantly network with professionals in the industry. In preparing for the workshop next week, the meat science group here at UNL needed to harvest four head of steers for one of the sessions. With all professors gone, one grad student busy in the lab, and the other at a conference in Belgium, I was warranted my first opportunity to help with a beef harvest!
Prior to the start of our day, I had announced to the two gentlemen I would be working with I had little harvest experience, but understood the general concept. I knew the day would be a challenge as I consider myself a timid learner. After watching the skill and technique of my colleagues I finally gained confidence to help. We began shortly before 8 am and did not finish cleanup until after 3. Needless to say, my brain was fried and my legs were sore from being on my feet all day. It was such a great experience, and I again must thank both Calvin and Derek for putting up with my "blondeness" as I like to call it.
As I continue to go through grad school and life in general, I feel blessed to have new and exciting opportunities such as this. Whether I gain applicable knowledge, have an engaged experience, or develop an appreciation for people, I feel I always learn something, and in this opportunity I did all three!!
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