Idaho’s New Meat Science Building Set To Welcome Students

Two plus years after ground was broken, the University of Idaho’s new Meat Science Building is set to welcome students on Thursday, February 12th.

Photo: University of Idaho

The 12,750-square-foot facility on the west end of the Moscow campus will be called the Meat Science and Innovation Center Honoring Ron Richard, a longtime manager of Vandal Brand Meats.

This New Facility Will Give Teachers More Options

Phil Bass, Associate Professor, Animal, Veterinary, and Food Sciences, said this new facility will replace a building constructed in the 1960s, and will allow for improved efficiencies.

"With the new one, we're going to be able to expand ability to bring more students in to learn, to work, to teach," Bass said. "We're also going to be able to have production going on while we're teaching, while we're putting on a workshop, or while we're doing research. All of that can be done in unison, whereas in the old plant, you kind of have to pick one avenue and stick with that for the day. And so the efficiencies that will be gained are tremendous.”

Photo: University of Idaho

Beef Packing A Great Option In Idaho

Bass added not only will this new facility improve education and research opportunities, it will attract not only more quality students.

“First off, just the notoriety of being able to have this newer facility is bringing a lot of folks to campus to engage in meat science," Bass said. "We get a lot of students that come in that don't even realize that is an industry and an option. And so we're trying to help direct folks to opportunities that are available. You know, in the state of Idaho, we have in the last 10 years brought on four major beef plants. C.S. Beef Packers in Kuna. We have True West in Jerome. We have Intermountain Beef and Riverbend Meats, both in Idaho Falls. The ability to get a job in the meat industry is huge.”

Bass added the new Meat Science Building will help the U of I engage the next generation of employees, and keep the industry strong for years.

Photo: University of Idaho