When this blog is published, RMC 2023 will be in full swing in St. Paul, Minn. The Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) is held annually as the premier scientific event for the meat industry, sponsored by the American Meat Science Association.

This year I have the honor and privilege to be the Chair of RMC. It has been a long 12 months of planning with our outstanding host committee from Hormel and the University of Minnesota. We will have a program that encompasses everything related to meat science including muscle biology, food safety, food security and all things meat science. We will have an outreach/service activity this year to package protein-based snack bags for local school children. Students who are learning the field of meat science will participate in a plethora of activities including a quiz bowl competition, Iron Chef and a processed meat competition. One of the primary goals of AMSA is to invest in the next generation of leaders for the meat industry.

Social events and networking will be ample, with many opportunities for meeting new industry professionals and for catching up with old friends. The event will be capped off with an awards banquet on Tuesday evening honoring the accomplishments of individuals working in this industry. If you have never been to this event, put it on the calendar for next year!

For the past two years since I found out I would be the chair of this event, I unofficially have called it “Sparkle RMC”. Yes, I love glitter and sparkles. I carry glow cubes in my backpack and edible glitter in my purse to be ready to celebrate at any moment. Of course, this influenced the “sparkle” designation for the event, but it is actually much deeper than that. The sparkle designation was given because this industry sparkles and shines. We feed the world. We impact health and safety. The people of this industry are wonderful, and they shine.

Academic programs in meat science are declining and we need to stand out as a career of choice for the next generation. We are constantly under attack in the media and from activist groups. We need to grab on to the sparkle and show the world our value and importance.

This concept was in full swing when I served as Under Secretary. I rolled out a “2020 vision” to our leadership in January (this was before we knew COVID was coming). I ended the meeting by giving each member of the leadership team a glow cube. I asked them to keep the glow cube on their desk and to remember who they were on the hard days (there were many hard days in the government) and to turn on the glow cube as a reminder that they are amazing, they make a difference and that they are doing important work. The people I worked with at FSIS were brilliant, and I always called them my “dream team” of scientists. I didn’t want them to forget that they may not always be recognized, they will face opposition just about every day, but the reality is that they are important and make a difference each day. They still are, and I am grateful for all they do each day.

The concept of “sparkle” should be embraced across the meat industry. I have seen this industry through the eyes of an academic scientist, a government official and now as a plant owner. I know from each seat the industry looks different and the challenges faced at each vantage point differ, but from all three views, this industry shines. Never forgot the value of what you do each day! Go forth and sparkle, meat industry!

Sparkle and Shine at RMC 2023

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