The Iowa State University Meat Science group attended the 2025 Reciprocal Meat Conference in Columbus, Ohio, June 22-25.
Eight students participated on two teams in the Intercollegiate Undergraduate Quiz Bowl competition.
- Cardinal Team: Avery Crooks, Nick Kelecich, Stephanie Major, Emma Shepard (captain),
- Gold Team: Lindsey Hospodarsky, Ashtyn Jolly, Camryn Schultz (captain), and Morgan Yahr.
The team was coached by Graduate Students Yurnei Carvajal, Emma Frank, Mackenzie Griffin, and Elias Perez. Dr. Rodrigo Tarte is the faculty member in charge of the Quiz Bowl Teams.
Caroline Downey and Ashtyn Jolly participated in the pre-conference Intercollegiate Meat Judging Coaches Workshop. In the Undergraduate Division of the Processed Meat Judging Contest, Ashtyn Jolly was the high individual. Morgan Yahr placed fifth.
Stephanie Major presented a research poster summarizing her undergraduate research in the Lonergan Lab. Isaac White, Emma Frank, Mackenzie Griffin, and Logan Johnson presented recent research results from their work in the Lonergan Lab in the poster sessions.
Mackenzie Griffin was chosen to receive the inaugural Patrick Fleming Award for Pork Research. Mackenzie's abstract was titled "Influence of Protein Degradation on the Presence of Calsequestrin in Sarcoplasmic Fraction of Fresh Pork Loin at 14 Days Postmortem". Mackenzie is in the first year of her
Master of Science program with Elisabeth Lonergan. Mackenzie is also an Iowa Pork Producers Scholar.
Dr. Logan Johnson was an invited speaker for a highlighted concurrent session entitled "Proteomic Techniques for Meat Quality Research: An Introduction and Exploration of Opportunities to Advance our Science". Logan's address was entitled "Using Proteomics in Shotgun Studies to Address Meat Science and Muscle Biology Questions". Dr. Rodrigo Tarte was an invited speaker for a highlighted concurrent session entitled "Exploring Nitrites and Nitrates: Chemical Foundations of Meat Curing". Dr. Tarte's address was entitled "Methodologies for Detection and Quantification of Nitrite in Meat". Steven Lonergan was in a panel discussion on meat science curriculum that represented meat science educators from five continents.
Within the AMSA leadership, Matt Wenger started his second year of a three-year term on the AMSA Board of Directors. Steven Lonergan began his term as President-Elect of AMSA.
