Penn State Students Host Meat-In Day

4th Annual Meat-In Day Encourages Students To Support Ag
04/01/2010 09:00AM
CattleNetwork.com

In keeping with tradition, Penn State students in the College of Agricultural Sciences once again joined forces to put on a showing of their support for animal agriculture. This year marked the 4th anniversary of Meat-In Day, an event originally started by Penn State Alumnus and former National Beef Ambassador Chris Molinaro (the National Beef Ambassador Team is funded in part by the beef checkoff).

On March 18, approximately 175 students from the College of Agriculture Sciences donned two different t-shirts to show their support around campus. And, members of four major college student organizations came to help with the event that was established as a proactive response to the Great American Meatout Day, which celebrated its 25th anniversary.

More than 1,700 pieces of beef jerky were handed out at the student union building as well as in the dinning commons area. The jerky was accompanied by educational flyers about the health benefits of beef.“

Students enthusiastically took pictures with the ever-popular Patty Melt,” says Allison Bardella, National Beef Ambassador Team member from Pennsylvania. “The students really enjoyed learning about what beef producers do on a daily basis to take their food from the pasture to plate.”

The National Beef Ambassador Program continues to provide an opportunity for youth to educate consumers and students about beef nutrition, food safety and stewardship practices of the beef industry through activities such as the Meat-In Day.

For more information about the Beef Ambassador Team, visit NationalBeefAmbassador.org. For more information about your checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com. Story Link

Too many times we tend to over-think how to advocate for agriculture. In my experience, the simplest strategies can be the most effective way to share your story. This is a great example of that. Congratulations to all of these college students and the National Beef Ambassadors for spending a day talking to their fellow students and giving them the opportunity to meet people who are directly involved in livestock care and food production. They have set a great example for others to follow.

College Students Promote Benefits of Meat

Students counter anti-meat rally
By Laura Nichols
For the Collegian, Penn State University

Standing outside the HUB-Robeson Center Wednesday, clad in red shirts with the word BEEF emblazoned across the front, students held a Meat-In in response to Monday's Meatout.

With the help of their mascot, Patty Melt -- a person dressed in a giant hamburger costume -- volunteers handed out pork sticks, beef jerky and cheese sticks.

The Collegiate Cattlewomen's Society held the third annual Meat-In as an effort to educate students about the benefits of having a diet rich in meats, milk and eggs, said Christi Graver, co-chairwoman of the day's event.

"We're the kids that grew up on farms. We know the production story of beef, pork, poultry and dairy," said Chris Molinaro, co-chairwoman of the Meat-In.

Molinaro (senior-animal science) said students were receptive throughout the event. More than a dozen volunteers handed out meat and dairy products during the lunch hours at the HUB. Volunteers also handed out food and information at Findlay Dining Commons from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

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The one thing the meatout can do is provide the motivation and opportunity for us to educate consumers on the benefits of including meat in our diets. Congratulations to these young agriculturalists for promoting their industry in a positive and productive way. This is a great example of the simple things we can all do to better our industry.