Conferences
Coordinated Extension Education for Meat Supply Chain Risk
Libby Christensen, Martha Sullins, and Sarah Blacklin
Summary
Across the country, ranchers, farmers, processors, and allied food system businesses are working to re-regionalize meat supply chains as a strategy to manage marketing, financial, legal, and human risk. In response, the National Meat Summits Steering Committee has developed a coordinated Extension-led education model that supports producers navigating market access, processing constraints, regulatory complexity, and workforce challenges.
Beginning in 2022 with five university partners and expanding to 11 organizations nationwide, the initiative has supported six regional meat summits since 2023, engaging more than 1,200 participants. Educational programming emphasizes applied risk management topics including diversified market channels, pricing and contracting considerations, regulatory navigation, processor relationships, and labor constraints. Sessions are designed for peer learning and supply chain connectivity rather than research dissemination.
Producer evaluations indicate increased understanding of market options, improved confidence engaging with processors and buyers, and clearer pathways for managing regulatory and operational risk. Several regions report new or strengthened market relationships and improved coordination among producers, processors, and technical assistance providers following summit participation.
This session will share how Extension educators can coordinate across geographies to identify shared risk management education needs while maintaining place-based customization. Presenters will discuss approaches to collaborative content development, fundraising, and evaluation, as well as professional development benefits for early-career Extension professionals. Participants will leave with a transferable framework for delivering risk management education in complex, value-chain-based agricultural systems, and gain the opportunity to engage with the National Meat Summits Steering Committee in the future if they desire.
Details
| Conference | 2026 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | 30-Minute Concurrent |