The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) announces that Dr. Michael Dikeman is the recipient of the 2014 AMSA Intercollegiate Meat Judging Meritorious Service Award. The award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding contributions or service to the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program and is sponsored by Food Safety Net Services and Agri-West International.Dr. Dikeman will be honored at a special reception and awards presentation at the AMSA 67th Reciprocal Meat Conference on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 in Madison, WI.
Dr. Michael E. Dikeman has been involved in meat judging since 1964, when he competed as an undergraduate student at Kansas State University. He then went on to be the assistant coach of the Michigan State University team in 1967 that won the American Royal and Southeastern contests out of the only three contests in which the team competed. He coached the K-State Meat Judging Team from 1980 to 1987 that won the International in 1986. He also was co-coach of the AK-SAR-BEN Meat Animal Evaluation Team for six years. Michael has been a ‘champion’ of Meat Judging for 4-H and FFA, as well as intercollegiate contests.