{"id":989735,"date":"2024-07-23T08:25:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/?p=989735"},"modified":"2024-07-22T15:26:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T19:26:11","slug":"meat-processing-classes-agricultural-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/meat-processing-classes-agricultural-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"Carving a Future in Agribusiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p>Charlie McGhee envisions running a small farm in King, North Carolina, while pursuing a career in agribusiness. Though his great-grandparents were sharecroppers, McGhee didn\u2019t grow up in an agricultural household.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, he\u2019s taken an academic path to reconnect to his farming roots by pursuing associate\u2019s degrees in <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/majors\/#horticultural-science-management\">horticultural science management<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/majors\/#agribusiness-management\">agribusiness management <\/a>through the <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/\">Agricultural Institute<\/a> (AGI) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). He\u2019s also completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/agricultural-operations-certificate\/\">agricultural operations certificate<\/a> with plans to graduate in May 2025 and work in the farm lending sector.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McGhee\u2019s interest in hunting and desire to raise livestock made him curious about how meat moves from farm to table. To gain practical experience, he enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/food-animal-and-poultry-processing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AGI\u2019s food animal and poultry processing classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The food animal and poultry processing curriculum was made possible by a<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/golden-leaf-foundation-agricultural-institute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> gift from the Golden LEAF Foundation<\/a> in 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/animal-science\/people\/currey-nobles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Currey Nobles<\/a>, animal science lecturer, developed the curriculum and teaches its three classes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing<strong>: <\/strong>fundamental meat processing operations and technology concepts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meat Safety and Quality Systems: essential aspects of food safety and quality systems common to the meat processing industry.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Value-Added Meat and Poultry Processing: basics of processing operations commonly performed in the meat and poultry industry, such as making sausage, bacon, marinated poultry products and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Carving a Future for Meat Processing\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IbDl0XAWXHQ?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These classes prepare students for careers in the meat processing industry, which has a high demand for skilled workers. McGhee enrolled in Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing, and Meat Safety and Quality Systems during the spring semester of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nobles\u2019 hands-on instruction gave McGhee and his classmates immediate experience handling meat and poultry products in a fun yet technical manner. They also gained in-the-field knowledge by visiting local meat processing facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe first few labs involved familiarizing myself with the workspace and tools,\u201d he says. \u201cA memorable moment was when Nobles demonstrated how to divide a pig\u2019s half-carcass into primals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McGhee even applied his new skills to making sausage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUntil now, I hadn&#8217;t taken any classes with this hands-on option,&#8221; he says. &#8220;It\u2019s interesting to watch, follow the entire process and then enjoy the product.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Meat Safety and Quality Systems class clarified some of McGhee\u2019s misconceptions about poultry processing. Learning about alternative regulations freed McGhee to consider raising and processing chickens on a small farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"sausage links on a metal tray\" class=\"wp-image-989739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students learn how to make sausage in the Value-Added Meat and Poultry Processing class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>McGhee&#8217;s summer 2024 internship at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agsouthfc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AgSouth Farm Credit<\/a> has also deepened his interest in the financial aspect of agribusiness. AgSouth is an agricultural lending cooperative that provides farm, land and home loans for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shadowing a Pilot Mountain branch loan officer and learning about his daily responsibilities has helped McGhee understand agricultural loans. He also had the opportunity to tour a poultry processing plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, he worked on a project to develop learning materials for new hires at AgSouth who lack an agricultural background. This project involved interviewing farmers to understand the types of loans they need, the equipment they might purchase with these loans and the overall performance of their operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working in agricultural lending has given McGhee a financial foundation for understanding the industry&#8217;s economic framework. The food animal and poultry processing classes at NC&#160;State have equipped him with the technical skills he can apply to his future small farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNobles is an excellent teacher, and he makes learning the technical aspects of meat processing enjoyable,\u201d McGhee says. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to get in there and learn about it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-post-header {\"displayCategoryID\":1174} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Charlie McGhee envisions running a small farm in King, North Carolina, while pursuing a career in agribusiness. Though his great-grandparents were sharecroppers, McGhee didn\u2019t grow up in an agricultural household.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>However, he\u2019s taken an academic path to reconnect to his farming roots by pursuing associate\u2019s degrees in <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/majors\/#horticultural-science-management\">horticultural science management<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/majors\/#agribusiness-management\">agribusiness management <\/a>through the <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/\">Agricultural Institute<\/a> (AGI) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). He\u2019s also completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/agricultural-operations-certificate\/\">agricultural operations certificate<\/a> with plans to graduate in May 2025 and work in the farm lending sector.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>McGhee\u2019s interest in hunting and desire to raise livestock made him curious about how meat moves from farm to table. To gain practical experience, he enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/agricultural-institute\/students\/food-animal-and-poultry-processing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AGI\u2019s food animal and poultry processing classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The food animal and poultry processing curriculum was made possible by a<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/golden-leaf-foundation-agricultural-institute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> gift from the Golden LEAF Foundation<\/a> in 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/animal-science\/people\/currey-nobles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Currey Nobles<\/a>, animal science lecturer, developed the curriculum and teaches its three classes:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing<strong>: <\/strong>fundamental meat processing operations and technology concepts.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Meat Safety and Quality Systems: essential aspects of food safety and quality systems common to the meat processing industry.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Value-Added Meat and Poultry Processing: basics of processing operations commonly performed in the meat and poultry industry, such as making sausage, bacon, marinated poultry products and more.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IbDl0XAWXHQ\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IbDl0XAWXHQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>These classes prepare students for careers in the meat processing industry, which has a high demand for skilled workers. McGhee enrolled in Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing, and Meat Safety and Quality Systems during the spring semester of 2024.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Nobles\u2019 hands-on instruction gave McGhee and his classmates immediate experience handling meat and poultry products in a fun yet technical manner. They also gained in-the-field knowledge by visiting local meat processing facilities.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThe first few labs involved familiarizing myself with the workspace and tools,\u201d he says. \u201cA memorable moment was when Nobles demonstrated how to divide a pig\u2019s half-carcass into primals.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>McGhee even applied his new skills to making sausage.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cUntil now, I hadn't taken any classes with this hands-on option,\" he says. \"It\u2019s interesting to watch, follow the entire process and then enjoy the product.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Meat Safety and Quality Systems class clarified some of McGhee\u2019s misconceptions about poultry processing. Learning about alternative regulations freed McGhee to consider raising and processing chickens on a small farm.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":989739,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/53740242252_1fe99ccf19_k-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"sausage links on a metal tray\" class=\"wp-image-989739\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students learn how to make sausage in the Value-Added Meat and Poultry Processing class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>McGhee's summer 2024 internship at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agsouthfc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AgSouth Farm Credit<\/a> has also deepened his interest in the financial aspect of agribusiness. AgSouth is an agricultural lending cooperative that provides farm, land and home loans for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Shadowing a Pilot Mountain branch loan officer and learning about his daily responsibilities has helped McGhee understand agricultural loans. He also had the opportunity to tour a poultry processing plant.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Additionally, he worked on a project to develop learning materials for new hires at AgSouth who lack an agricultural background. This project involved interviewing farmers to understand the types of loans they need, the equipment they might purchase with these loans and the overall performance of their operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Working in agricultural lending has given McGhee a financial foundation for understanding the industry's economic framework. The food animal and poultry processing classes at NC State have equipped him with the technical skills he can apply to his future small farm.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cNobles is an excellent teacher, and he makes learning the technical aspects of meat processing enjoyable,\u201d McGhee says. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to get in there and learn about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charlie McGhee&#8217;s classes on food animal and poultry processing and his work in agricultural lending have sharpened his knowledge of the practical and financial sides of farming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3545,"featured_media":989845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":1174,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1792,1181,1174],"tags":[73,2727,72,2705],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"coauthors":[2257],"displayCategory":{"term_id":1174,"name":"Students","slug":"students","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1174,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":2697,"count":494,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989735"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=989735"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":989865,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989735\/revisions\/989865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/989845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=989735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=989735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=989735"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=989735"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=989735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}