This past weekend I was an elf for our local drive-through Santa event at the firehouse. It was so fun watching all the kids drop off their letters to Santa, have a quick chat with Santa, and receive a small gift and a bag of goodies to take home. Santa was a great sport this year as we had to do everything socially distanced from the car. It didn’t seem to matter to the kids, as they just wanted to make sure Santa knew their wishes. Some of them we scream out the window as mom and dad drove off to make sure Santa heard their wishes. It was so cute!

I hope Santa and his elves are prepared this year because there were a lot of Barbies and Tonka Trucks on the wish lists. It brought back so many fun memories as a kid. We all had that special gift we asked for and waited excitedly to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Fast forward to now and being an adult. Christmas still has a special meaning and I enjoy giving more than I do receiving. This year my husband and I didn’t exchange gifts, but instead gave back our time and talents to the community. We are celebrating by giving instead of receiving. As a mom, I wish I could spend my holidays with my kids. That didn’t necessarily come true this year because of COVID but we were able to spend time together via FaceTime. I was also able to give back to kids that may not have had a Christmas. I am still feeling the warm fuzzies of Christmas even though it is a bit different this year.

I still think we all have that special gift we wish for every Christmas. My wish came true this year with a welcome home to our new puppy, Laska Penelope. She brings me such joy, she really keeps me company, and keeps me busy with training and long walks. She is my Christmas wish come true. My husband’s wish this Christmas is for Laska Penelope to learn to go potty outside — HaHa! Humor and daily laughter are why I married him. Although, I also probably do share his wish!

In addition to my personal wants, I always want something for our industry. I have wished for more turkey products, new chicken sausage, processing equipment, and so many other things we have needed throughout the 25 years I have been in this fabulous industry. This year, what I want for Christmas for our industry is a science-based Undersecretary for Food Safety. Earlier this year, USDA FSIS and Undersecretary Brashears released a food safety road map. I hope that everyone was able to review this road map. It was great. It was a plan. It was leading the way.

We have barely begun down this road and I am hoping we can continue. I understand changes in administration require changes in appointments and overall changes in personnel. We are currently in the midst of this administration change and we all understand these changes. We as an industry can accept change.

However, food safety and the science associated with food safety do not change. The data do not change with administrative changes. The data tell a story and that story does not change based on people changing positions. For this reason, having a science-based voice making decisions at USDA FSIS is critical to ensure the road map continues and risk to consumers is decreased.

I am hoping Santa hears my wish for our industry and I am hoping we can have an Undersecretary for Food Safety to continue leading us on the scientific roadmap. I am looking forward to 2021. I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Whatever is celebrated, I hope your home is filled with love laughter, and some good food.

All I want for Christmas is…

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