FFA Mock Meat Judging Clinic

Taylor County High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) club had the opportunity to attend a FFA meat judging clinic last Friday and Saturday.   On Friday the attended a lecture at University of Florida on meat science and meat judging.  On Saturday then participated in a mock contest to help prepare them for the state contest.  During the contest they learned how to grade beef, pork, and lamb like USDA meat inspectors.  They learned how to judge the quality and yield of each animal carcass and how to identify over 75 different retail cuts that you would see in the meat department of a grocery store.  The mock contest on Saturday was held in a 42-degree commercial cooler for over 4 hours.  The commercial cooler is kept at this temperature to prevent pathogens from growing on food.  “Being freshmen they were overwhelmed with the amount of information but seeing real carcasses and Masters of a trade butcher and meat cutters excited them.  They represent TCHS well and made me proud of them” commented James Jones, FFA sponsor.