Young leaders develop beef products fit for consumers at 20th UNL symposium

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Young people who raise cattle see where beef comes from first hand, but the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium shows them the full process - from farm to table.

"We talked about the cow-calf operations yesterday, and then we learned how to cut out and turn a whole entire half side of the beef into retail cuts that you'd find in a grocery store," said Mason Janda, a high school student from Ravenna. "So just seeing all of the steps in a hands-on way has been super enjoyable."

From Nov. 8-10, 45 high school students left their classrooms and beef operations to come to East Campus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"Back home we have a seed stock operation and we have a bull sale every year, and I have my own herd of cattle, primarily show cattle," said Justine Pope, a student from Shelton.

Thirty-five students are from Nebraska, and 10 are from Kentucky, but they still have a lot in common.

"The beef industry is what we do," said Parker Walahoski, a student from Overton. "I love beef and so does my family and so - being a leader in beef is important to me. That's why I keep coming back."

Throughout the three-day symposium, the students identify their leadership styles and how they can use those skills in a group setting. This helps them with their next group activity.

They are divided into nine groups that have to develop a beef product that's fit for restaurants and consumers.

"So this year, we challenged them with a top sirloin steak, a top round steak and ground beef," said Dr. Gary Sullivan, an associate professor of meat science. "They get evaluated on the product itself, how well they use the cut, as well as the marketing plan and the presentation that they work through."

Then the students decided how to present their product to judges on the final day of the symposium.

"They actually have to work and each person takes the lead on one particular item relative to the production, safety and/or marketing of that product," said Dr. Bryan Reiling, an animal science professor.

The students got creative, cooking up dishes like Mexican sushi, cowboy cupcakes and orange beef, instead of orange chicken.

While the competition raises the stakes, the ultimate goal is to show young people where these careers can take them. After 20 years, about 900 students have attended the symposium.

"The beef industry is such a wide industry, and so we're able to gain those new connections and that comradery," said Esther VanOverbeke, a student from Waverly.

NYBLS is sponsored by the Nebraska Beef Council, the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation, the Nebraska Corn Board and the Kentucky Beef Council.

Applications for next year's Nebraska youth Beef Leadership Symposium will open on Aug. 1. Anyone in 10th, 11th or 12th grade is eligible to go. Click here for more information.