May 17, 2021
May is National Beef Month and each week this month we are going to be highlighting the unique beef and cattle practices that happen here at WT in the Department of Agricultural Sciences.
Tune in each week to learn something new!
WTAMU Beef Carcass Research Center
The WTAMU Beef Carcass Research Center (BCRC) was established in 1992 as a service to the U.S. beef industry. Since 1992, the BCRC has collected harvest and grading data on more than 1 million head of cattle. The BCRC routinely collects research data for pharmaceutical companies, feedlot research trials, university research trials, seedstock producers and other entities that have a need for data collection. Basic harvest data include individual animal ID, carcass ID, and hot carcass weight. Basic grade data include fat thickness, ribeye area, %KPH, marbling, maturity, quality grade, and yield grade. In 1996, the BCRC assumed responsibilities for the National Cattleman's Beef Association (NCBA) Cattlemen's Carcass Data Service (CCDS). Through the CCDS, a network of coordinators provides carcass data availability across the nation. Currently, the BCRC employs 20 undergraduate students, and five graduate students. The three faculty members that oversee it all are: Dr. Ty Lawrence, Professor of Animal Science and Director of the BCRC, Dr. Loni Lucherk, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Meats Team Coach, and Dr. Travis Tennant, Assistant Professor of Animal Science.
WT125 Research Award
Erasme Da Cruz, M.S. Environmental Science, was the first recipient of the WT125 Research Award at the 27th Annual Student Research Conference.

The WT 125 Research Award acknowledges significant student research that addresses the immediate needs of the Texas Panhandle and other regions with similar challenges. One major research focus of WT125 and associated WT 125 Chancellor’s Research Initiative is water preservation and Buffalo Lake is a prime example of the importance of these research efforts. 
 
The WT 125 award was selected by considering the top scoring research projects across all submission categories and medium, completed papers, oral presentations, video presentations, and poster. From these award winners across all categories the project was selected that most demonstrated a significant impact on the Texas Panhandle, its population and culture.  Congratulations, Erasme!
WTAMU Places 4th in
National Meat Animal Evaluation Contest
Considered the “granddaddy” of all intercollegiate judging and evaluation contests, the Meat Animal Evaluation contest is a three-day judging contest. On day 1 of the contest, students evaluate and price live market fed cattle, feeder cattle, sheep and pigs. On day 2 of the contest, the contestants judge and answer ten questions over ten different breeding livestock classes. There is also a team communications portion of the contest, where the students have to present an extemporaneous skit on an issue in the industry. This year’s issue was Proposition 16 in Colorado. On day 3 of the contest, the students compete in a meat judging contest where the animals from the first day are harvested and evaluated for true carcass data. The students are evaluated on how close they were to the actual carcass data of the live animals. This is the first time West Texas A&M has had a team in a number of years. Co-coached by Dr. Loni Lucherk, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Mr. Preston Lawrence, Livestock Judging Coach and graduate student Travis Tilton. Congratulations!
Stanley Schaeffer Awarded Honorary Doctorate at WT Spring Commencement
Honorary degrees offer the University opportunity to recognize excellence in the fields of public affairs, the sciences, humanities and the arts, scholarship and education, business and philanthropy and social services with significant and lasting contributions to community.“It’s very humbling,” Schaeffer said. “Attending WT changed my life, and now to receive an honorary doctorate from a university that I love is an honor I do not take lightly.”
As a dear friend of our college, we congratulate you, Dr. Schaeffer!
Erath Pasture to Packer Program visits WT!
The program, offered through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Erath County and Erath 4-H, is designed to teach youth the economic and production facets of an agricultural project, while also teaching them valuable leadership skills.

After acceptance to the program, the participants begin working with one of the sponsors, Lone Star Ag Credit, to request their loan for their animal cost and feed.

In October, participants select steers from a pre-sorted group of commercial calves weighing between 750-800 pounds. The participants will have their calves on feed for 175 days. During this process, the youth will have to keep records on feed performance and cost associated with the project.

After the cattle are harvested, the participants will learn about carcass quality, grading and cuts of meat. They will then be responsible for marketing their carcass. This program gives the participants full responsibility from the purchasing decision to the marketing. The proceeds of the carcass sales will be used to pay back the loan.    

This program is designed to give young people a very valuable hands-on, learning experience, from interviews and bank visits, to daily care of their cattle, combined with the marketing side and industry knowledge of where and how our food is processed. 

After extension agent, Lonnie Jenschke, toured WT last summer, he knew he had to bring his Pasture to Packer students to WT to see what we have to offer! We are glad they visited and will gladly welcome them back anytime! Learn more.
May 2021 Commencement!
Sunrise Brunch for our graduates, their families and friends was a success!
Commencement for 2020 & 2021 graduates! Congratulations!
The ladies who made commencement run smoothly! Thank you for all your help!
Rebekah Bachman, Deanna Moore, Rose Anne Platt, Emily Merrill, Amy Newton, Paighton Gouldy, Rita Smith, and Megan Miller.
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a life time — help someone else.”
~ Chinese proverb