1. Home
2. Conferences
3. 2025 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference

Multidisciplinary Approach to Risk Management in Direct-to-Consumer Meat Marketing Education

Jennifer Lutes, Jake Hefley, Amie Breshears, and Eric Meusch

Summary

The University of Missouri Extension’s Value-Added Meats (VAM) program demonstrates how a multidisciplinary team and strategic partnerships can enhance risk management education and market access for livestock producers. This presentation explores the intersection of financial, production, marketing, legal, and human risks in direct-to-consumer meat marketing, highlighting how different expertise and collaboration strengthen educational outcomes.
Drawing on a team with a wide range of academic and personal experiences, the VAM program provides producers with knowledge and resources to transition from commodity sales to value-added meat for direct marketing. The team’s academic experience provides a strong foundation in financial analysis, enterprise management, teaching, and program leadership. Team members also bring personal experience in livestock production, meat processing, restaurant management, and meat sales which provide a comprehensive understanding of the value chain from farm to fork. In addition, the team works with partners from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, farmers' markets, Extension Feedlot Schools, and processing facilities to help expand market opportunities and enhance local meat supply chains.
Key interactive educational tools include a 3-D beef carcass model, USDA grading cards, and processing demonstrations that translate complex concepts into practical applications. Through educational programs producers gain insights into carcass breakdown, pricing strategies, and regulatory considerations, supported by decision-making tools like the On-Farm Beef Finishing Planning Budget and Evaluating Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Opportunities for Local Beef in Missouri.
This session will provide attendees with tips for assembling multidisciplinary teams, fostering public-private partnerships, and implementing hands-on learning strategies to help producers mitigate risks and build sustainable, profitable meat enterprises.

Details

---