The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) has announced that Dr. Davey Griffin is the recipient of the 2018 Intercollegiate Meat Judging Meritorious Service Award.  The award is sponsored by Food Safety Net Services and Agri-West International.  Dr. Griffin will be honored at a special awards banquet at the AMSA 71st Reciprocal Meat Conference on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 in Kansas City, MO.   

Dr. Davey Griffin attended Texas A&M University where he received his B.S. in 1978, M.S. in 1981, and Ph.D. in 1989. Dr. Griffin judged on the Texas A&M University Meat Judging Team in 1976. As a graduate student, coaching multiple teams is rare at Texas A&M, but when need arose, Dr. Griffin answered the call. He coached TAMU’s 1983, 1984 and 1986 teams winning many contests, including the 1983 International.

Dr. Griffin began working as an Extension Meat Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University in 1989 and now is a Professor and Extension Meat Specialist. Throughout his career, Dr. Griffin has been dedicated to meat judging. His outstanding dedication to both youth and intercollegiate meat judging programs not only at Texas A&M University, but also through AMSA’s Meat Judging Program make him worthy of this recognition. Hundreds of students and dozens of graduate student coaches have come through the meat judging program over the past two decades. During his time as coordinator, there were seven national championship teams and countless high individuals and other honors.  However, the most important part of Dr. Griffin’s contribution has been to help students and coaches grow as young professionals.  The love and respect that Dr. Griffin has received from current and former students stands as a testament for his work and dedication to the meat judging program.

Dr. Griffin’s other meat judging activities include serving two terms as regional director, president, and past-president of the AMSA Intercollegiate Meat Coaches Association; assisting in developing and implementing scanned meat judging sheets for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Meat Judging Contest (which were later adopted for all AMSA meat judging contests) and serving on the AMSA Meat Evaluation Handbook Committee. Dr. Griffin has received many awards and honors for his work including the AMSA Distinguished Extension-Industry Service Award in 2008, Signal Service Award and AMSA Fellow in 2013, and the Harry L. Rudnick Educator of the Year Award presented by the North American Meat Processors Association in 2010.

Source: AMSA