Ron is the Manager of UI Meat Laboratory; "Vandal Brand Meats".  Vandal Brand Meats is a full service butcher shop. Locally grown, beef lamb and pork products are for resale at their 6th Street Location.  Excellent Vandal Dogs, Sausage, Beef Sticks and of course you can stock up for the winter by purchasing a quarter or half beef.  The students employees have a detailed understanding of meats, food safety and the meat industry and have job experience to add to their resume!  Each year Ron's employees create an original recipe and produce a meat product to take to competition at the Northwest Meat Processors meetings.  The 2012 group won first place in the college division for their original recipe, "Shakin, Bakin Sausage"!  The UI Meat Lab is an essential element for "hands on learning" as co-instructor in AVS 263, Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation and AVS 363, Animal Production for Human Consumption.

Abstracts:

Consumer acceptability of beef bottom round steaks treated with calcium chloride and bromelain.  J Colle, J. A. Nasados, L. C. Davis, R. N. Day, A. R. Gray, C. M. Welch, N. F. Elliott, A. S. Henderson, W. I. Loucks, H. M. Mitchell, R. P. Richard, M. E. Doumit.  2012, Proc. Reciprocal Meat Conf. 65.

March 2012: Senior Cured Meats Judge, Northwest Meat Processors Association.

April 2012: Senior Cured Meats Judge, Montana Meat Processors Association.

July 2012: Selected by former President Nellis for one of 100 outstanding faculty awards and subsequent salary enhancement.

University of Idaho, College of Ag & Life Sciences recognized as the Outstanding General College Management and Support Staff for 2010-2011.

Honorary Life Member, Northwest Meat Processors Association