U of I unveils its new Meat Science and Innovation Center Honoring Ron Richard, enhancing class sizes, training, local beef processing and boosting job placements.
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho’s (U of I) College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) will host a grand opening for its 12,750 square foot Meat Science and Innovation Center Honoring Ron Richard.
The grand opening takes place on Friday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. The new building is located at 775 Perimeter Drive, Moscow.
U of I says the new center will be able to accommodate larger classes, expand training opportunities, expand research opportunities and increase production capacity. The purpose of increasing production capacity is to elevate “the status of meat science at the university and its Vandal Brand Meats program.”
According to a press release, the Meat Science and Innovation Center Honoring Ron Richard will allow small-scale northern Idaho ranchers a place to process their beef. It will also train workers to fill more jobs in meat processing facilities all across Idaho. The center is also one of the few U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected plants that allows small local ranchers to process their beef.
The center also replaces the previous building, which was built in the 1960s, and includes dedicated spaces that will improve efficiency by allowing multiple operations at one time.
Ron Richard worked for Vandal Brand Meats as a manager for a long time. U of I says his image helped shape the brand’s reputation. Vandal Brand Meats generate $325,000 annually in sales.
The press release says the meat science program at U of I has a 100% job replacement rate for graduates within the meat sector and similar industries.