It was deja vu again this week for Texas Tech's Meat Science Academic Quiz Bowl Team. The standout team of animal science students once again won a national championship title at the 67^th American Meat Science Association's Reciprocal Meat Conference in Madison, Wis. Previously the Red Raiders have roasted the competition, winning the event in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

At this year's event Texas Tech entered two teams, which finished first and third against 27 other teams from the top meat science programs at 19 universities. "The students who competed are extremely intelligent," said Mark Miller, professor and the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. "Their performance was a great reflection of the high academic standards of Texas Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences."

The 2014 team members included:

• Caetlyn Avant, a senior from Copeville
• Brittany Blum, a senior from Howe
• Hayden Brown, a senior from Midland
• Lindsey Drey, a junior from Houston
• Kaitlyn Farmer, a senior from Aztec, N.M.
• Taylor Frank, a senior from Berthoud, Colo.
• Jeremy Garcia, a senior from Houston
• Deshea Hanagan, a junior from Artesia, N.M.
• Nick Hardcastle, a senior from Wheeler
• David Holland, a senior from Killeen
• Austin Langemeier, a senior from Marion
• Kassandra Ognoskie, a junior from Orting, Wash.
• Autumn Ritchey, a junior from Houston
• Chad Vanderlinden, a senior from Muscatine, Iowa
• Christy Woerner, a junior from Fredericksburg

Separately, two Tech students were honored by the American Meat Science Association for their outstanding academic achievement and leadership in the meat science industry. Heather Rode received an AMSA Scholastic Achievement Award and honorary mention was awarded to Austin Langemeier.

Meantime, at an awards banquet, Deidrea Mabry was honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award. The award is designed to recognize and foster the development of young AMSA members who have demonstrated significant scientific skills in muscle foods research and technology that contribute to the animal products industry. Mabry received her bachelor's degree in agricultural communications (2003) and master's degree in animal science (2006) from Tech. She is AMSA's Director of Scientific Communications and Technical Programs.

Another Tech student, Bo Hutto, competed on the Iron Chef first place team, which was comprised of 10 students from various universities. The team was given a mystery protein when they arrived at the conference and were asked to develop a product using a secret ingredient. Hutto's team developed a chicken pot pie in a bowl made of weaved bacon. The competition was sponsored by Kraft Foods and the recipe will be featured on their company website.

Texas Tech students displayed 19 research posters at the conference. Loni Woolley, a meat science graduate student, was inducted as the AMSA Student Board President, and Hutto was recognized as the South Region Director.

Reporting by Moriah Beyers

CONTACT: Michael Orth, chairman, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 or michael.orth@ttu.edu

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