It has been a great experience being involved with the YCC Tour the past couple of days.
This group of 50 men and women undergo a rigorous selection process to be chosen. They represent all segments of the profession ranging from ranchers, veterinarians, retailers, cow-calf producers, agribusiness, to packers.
These individuals tour beef industry sectors to better understand their profession. From Colorado, their next stop is Chicago and then Washington, D.C. for a legislative visit and a briefing from John Deere, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan) and NCBA staff. YCC is sponsored by JBS and JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Elanco Animal Health, and John Deere.
NCBA has been hosting the YCC Tour since Thursday. I have helped the culinary team prepare meals for them. Thursday was a taco bar for lunch (I made the black bean salsa) and a steak grill for supper.
Today was different, however as we all went on a "field trip" which started in Greeley, CO. We toured the JBS Greeley Beef Plant and I got to see practically the whole process, minus the stunning. I was amazed by how many different safety measures are conducted to ensure safe consumption by the consumer. I think my co-workers were impressed that I wasn't squirming at all...not even when there where stomachs and intestines flailing around on the line :) Or when I saw the hides taken off by a vacuum system.
Next we went to JBS Five River's Kuner Feedyard in Kersey, CO where my picture was taken! What an extensive operation! They have a feeding capacity of 98,000 head. They took us through receiving where I saw a Temple Grandin-designed loading system with the serpentine layout and squeeze chute. We were also shown their manure system that is then turned into energy or ash.
I learned so much today! Tomorrow we are having a lunch for YCC and then my co-worker is going to give a presentation.
This is a LONG entry...but I wanted to make sure and get all of this information down somehow!
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