Timmerman joins AURI

Marshall, Minn. — In January, Dennis Timmerman joined the AURI staff in Marshall as project development director for value-added animal products. The operator of a corn, soybean and hog farmer near Boyd, Minn., Timmerman is experienced in value-added production as a founding member of the Prairie Farmers Cooperative. The 71-member hog producer co-op is building a processing plant near Dawson.

“What Denny brings to the organization is first-hand knowledge of project development and business,” says Edgar Olson, AURI executive director.

“I’m a believer in developing value-added opportunities for Minnesota producers,” Timmerman says. “I enjoy helping producers find a market for what they raise.”

Timmerman will provide statewide assistance to projects that involve livestock and animal products. He replaces Steve Olson who left AURI to head the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

Meat workshops offered

Marshall, Minn. — AURI is offering two meaty workshops this spring. A meat processing two-day short course will provide instruction on sausage making, smokehouse operations, nutrition labeling and other meat science-related topics. The workshop will be held April 25 and 26 at AURI’s meat laboratory on the Southwest State University campus in Marshall, Minn.

A two-day Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) workshop will be held May 9 and 10 at the Holiday Inn Express in St. Cloud, Minn. It will offer instruction on identifying and eliminating potential food safety hazards in the meat preparation process.

To register for either workshop, call Louise Eischens at AURI’s Marshall office, phone (507) 537-7440.

AURI hosts FFA competition

Marshall, Minn. — On March 7, more than 30 Minnesota FFA members showed off their food skills at the AURI-hosted Food Science and Technology competition at Southwest State University.

Eight teams competed in sensory evaluation, food safety awareness, and replied to a customer complaint letter. Each team designed a food product, complete with nutritional analysis, labeling and a marketing plan.

The Dassel-Cokato team won and will move on to a national competition in Louisville, Kentucky. Other chapters competing were Jackson, Belle Plaine, Benson, New Prague, Medford, Stillwater and Chaska.