10th Annual Ag Tour visits MHS food science program
The 10th Annual Southwest Missouri Agriculture Tour, hosted by Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, visited Miller High School's innovative food science program on August 21. In addition to the visit to Miller, the tour also included ten more stops at some of the regions successful farms, ranches, and agri-businesses.
The tour included many leaders from agriculture and education. Joining Congressman Roy Blunt were state and federal agriculture officials, representatives from various agriculture groups and associations, and representatives from conservation and environmental programs. In addition, Missouri State University President Dr. Michael Nietzel and Ozarks Technical Community College President Hal Higdon were with the tour.
Miller FFA Cardinal Pride Meats is a special curriculum that is part of the Miller High School Agriculture Education Program. In fact, Cardinal Pride Meats is the only state inspected meat processing plant operating in a school setting. The food science endeavor has been noted as a unique program to engage students in practical curriculum where students learn problem solving skills and entrepreneurial ideals that could be applied in any profession.
The program began when the Miller Agriculture Education Program secured a $40,000 grant through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to initiate the project in the 2004-2005 school year. The grant was given to areas identified by the State of Missouri as having a high occupational demand. The goal of the food science program was to offer authentic hands-on instructional lessons to upper classmen in hopes of inspiring direct entry into the food science industry or entry into a program of higher education in the area of food science. Class members worked with advisors to construct the lab with equipment that could be found in the industry.
Miller was the first stop on the itinerary with the tour arriving at the school about 8:40 am. The group was welcomed to Miller by Superintendent Anthony Rossetti.
After a brief overview of the program from MHS ag teacher Jay Shepherd, the group visited the school's food science lab. Ag teacher Lyle Whittaker then presented a history of the program and explained the process of implementing this program, specifically, the process of obtaining state inspected status.
Mr. Whittaker explained that instructors worked closely with Dr. Treese, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Missouri Meat Inspection Division, to develop a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. The HACCP program evaluates each product-processing step in the areas of biological, chemical and physical properties to identify possible hazards that may exist. The plan identifies what steps need to be taken to reduce certain risks that may occur in the lab.
The group also heard Congressman Blunt speak briefly about the Interstate Trade bill, which would allow state inspected meat processing plants to sell merchandise across state lines. Since state inspected plants must undergo the same types of safety inspections as USDA facilities, the legislation calls for allowing these entities to market in other states.
As part of the presentation, several Miller High School students demonstrated their skills by processing bacon for the group. The students sliced whole slab bacon and packaged the meat using a shrink wrapping process. Of course, the food science program produces many other meat products including smoked hams and turkeys, any and all fresh retail cuts, summer sausage, beef jerky, snack sticks, and smoked pork chops. The meat is available for purchase by the general public. Interested customers should contact the Mr. Whittaker or Mr. Shepherd at (417) 452-3271.
The Miller Future Farmers of America (FFA) has an enrollment of 226 students in grades 7-12.
Click on the link below to view more pictures from the ag tour visit to Miller.
