In Profile: AFS's Ashley Lembke brings home AQHA World Championship Title
Day-to-day Ashley Lembke has her hands in a number of engaging endeavors from being a full-time employee to graduate student studies. But it's the Texas Tech animal science doctoral candidate's most recent effort that's landed her in the limelight as one of the newest American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champions.
Last November the Northfield, Minn. native and her horse Sir Rey of Oak were named amateur world champions in the 'Amateur Working Cow Horse' competition at the AQHA Open World Championship Show in Oklahoma City.
"I've always had a horse, and I absolutely love it," Lembke said. "It's such an adrenaline rush when I compete, that's what keeps me hooked."
The AQHA is the largest equine breed organization in the world with more than 300,000 members and 5 million registered horses in 95 countries. Association members must earn a predetermined number of points to qualify to compete in the championship.
Lembke received a bachelor's degree in animal science from Colorado State University. When she came to Tech for her graduate studies in animal science (meat science and food microbiology emphasis), she joined the university's internationally-recognized Ranch Horse Team, where she was introduced to horse show competitions.
When Lembke wasn't in the training arena, she could often be found in the meat lab working on her research. Her research focused on antimicrobial interventions for food borne pathogens, such as E. coliO157:H7 and Salmonella in beef manufacturing applications.
Lembke said her experience within Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences aided her in landing her current position as a director of quality assurance and food safety with Green Bay, Wisconsin-based American Foods Group. In the future, she hopes to advance in the food safety and regulatory compliance sector of the beef industry. Her expected graduation date is May 2015.
"I've been very proud to be a part of CASNR at Tech," Lembke said.
Written by Faith Jurek
CONTACT: Chance Brooks, Associate Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu
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