CENTENNIAL, COLO. – Penn State students in the College of Agricultural Sciences joined forces once again to support animal agriculture. This year marked the 4th anniversary of Meat-In Day, an event originally started by Penn State Alumnus and former National Beef Ambassador Chris Molinaro. The National Beef Ambassador Team is funded in part by the beef checkoff.

Approximately 175 students from the College of Agriculture Sciences donned two different t-shirts on March 18 to show their support around campus. Members of four major college student organizations also came to help with the event that was established as a proactive response to the Great American Meatout Day, which celebrated its 25th anniversary.

During the event, more than 1,700 pieces of beef jerky were distributed at the student union building and in the dinning commons area. The hand-held snacks were accompanied by educational flyers about the health benefits of beef.

“Students enthusiastically took pictures with the ever-popular Patty Melt,” said Allison Bardella, National Beef Ambassador Team member from Pennsylvania. “The students really enjoyed learning about what beef producers do on a daily basis to take their food from the pasture to plate.”

The National Beef Ambassador Program provides an opportunity for youth to educate consumers and students about beef nutrition, food safety and stewardship practices of the beef industry through activities such as the Meat-In Day.