CORVALLIS, OR – Ranchers, farmers and butchers who want to learn about direct marketing meat can participate in the new Western Meat School, a new learning short course created for small meat producers and processors.
The Western Meat School is a collaborative effort between The Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network (NMPAN) at Montana State University, University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, and Mesalands Community College. It’s funded by Western Extension Risk Management Education grants and the Globetrotter Foundation.
The Western Meat School offers an innovative six-week learning experience in November and December where ranchers, farmers, butchers, and others will learn how to direct market meat. The course will cover topics in production, processing, and marketing to produce high-quality meat and sell to diverse market channels. Participants will learn new ways to manage risk and improve profitability.
Expert speakers, both practitioners and academics, will be beaming in via Zoom for six Wednesday evenings in a row. Classes will take place in-person (COVID willing) at 12 different locations in the five organizing states where facilitators will help guide the discussion as participants listen to the presenters on the big screen or from the comfort of their home.
If any class sites are unable to meet due to local COVID restrictions, 100% of the course will be available online. The organizers are making this short course as flexible as possible for those who want to meet and network in person or those who want to learn from home.
The Western Meat School is designed for the following audiences:
Ranchers and farmers with at least a couple years experience
Meat Processors & Butchers
Meat Buyers, Distributors, Retailers
Agricultural Professionals, Extension Specialists
NGOs working on local livestock and meat supply chain
The livestock species covered in this course include:
Beef & bison
Pigs
Sheep & Goats
While this course does not cover poultry, many of the subjects could apply to processing and selling poultry
Enrollment is now open. A limited number of scholarships are also available for low-income individuals and people of color. Find out more at NMPAN
