This Week's Program - The Amazing Beef Industry
According to a PBS Frontline report, “In recent decades, the beef industry has undergone a radical transformation -- the small cattle farmer has been all but replaced by beef processing companies that own huge feedlots and industrial meat-packing plants. One result of this concentration has been inexpensive and readily available meat; beef now costs half of what it did in 1970.” This week, our own beef industry expert, Dr. Johnny Matsushima will review the changes and help us understand the impact. Matsushima will be introduced by Past President Bill West..jpg){kind=spacer}
Dr. John Matsushima received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Colorado State University and PhD from University of Minnesota. He spent 12 years at the University of Nebraska before returning to CSU in 1961, retiring in 1992. He joined RCFC in 1969 and served as Club President from 1981-1982. Among his many awards, in 2013 he was named Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show. He has also been given the William E. Morgan Alumni Achievement Award, Japan Emperor Award for contributions to the Japanese beef industry, and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2011-12.Kiichiro Matsushima was the eldest of seven children born to Japanese immigrants who farmed in Lafayette and, later, Platteville. His first home was a two-room house where everyone slept on a homemade futon. He spoke only Japanese until his first day as a student at Davidson School. After struggling to pronounce his name, his teacher, Bertha L. James, changed it to “Johnnie,” and the new name stuck.