Emily Woockman – U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver

July Update

It’s crazy how fast time flies when you’re spending every day learning something new! One learning experience that has really stood out to me is meeting and chatting with the international representatives of USMEF across the globe. Although we can’t always meet in person, it’s amazing to hear their perspectives on the U.S. red meat trade as non-U.S. residents.

Jihae Yang is the current vice president of the Asia Pacific region. This region covers almost all of Asia and Oceania, excluding Japan. She was in Denver last month, so the other intern and I had the opportunity to sit down with her and discuss her role and responsibilities at USMEF. It was fascinating to hear a different perspective on the Asian market from someone who lives in the region. We discussed topics such as tariffs, low birth rates and aging populations, China, and the various levels of market development across Asia. One of the things Jihae emphasized was how U.S. producers are distinct from those in other countries involved in international trade. We have a vision and pride in feeding the globe and a willingness to invest in and adopt new technologies to do so.

Over Zoom, we were also able to meet Emilio Aguilera and Jessica Julca, who represent South American countries. With Brazil being a top competitor in beef exports, it was especially interesting to learn how they differentiate U.S. meat in the region and conduct consumer research. We also discussed how the pandemic negatively impacted the U.S. market share in South America and how USMEF is working to regain that share. Emilio and Jessica highlighted the challenges of representing a region rather than a single country because of the wide variety of cultures. Different countries value different things: some are willing to pay more for high-quality meat, while others view meat more as a basic commodity.

Getting a global perspective on U.S. meat exports has been one of the most valuable aspects of interning at USMEF. The opportunity to learn from people who are highly knowledgeable about international markets is truly invaluable

June Update

As I reflect on the first month of my internship, one word truly describes this experience: opportunity. The United States Meat Export Federation has opened my eyes to various roles in how American producers feed the world and the work that goes into making sure that it runs smoothly. At the Board of Directors meeting, I got to meet people in all 9 sectors that the USMEF serves. From people who work for packers, exporters, Farm Bureaus, and great organizations like state corn boards (although Nebraska’s is my favorite!).

It truly amazes me, as someone who grew up on a small farm in rural northeast Nebraska, the different opportunities that are out there to stay involved in agriculture that don’t include me working directly on the farm but still being able to make an impact in the industry.

The staff at USMEF has done a great job setting up the internship to provide exposure to various aspects of the meat export industry while also being so welcoming to me and the CSU intern. This last month we have gotten to tour the Superior Lamb Processing Plant in Denver, go to ranch tours, spend the day with the economists at CattleFax, meet with both the National Cattle Beef Association and American Lamb Board staffs, and sit down to chat with Where Food Comes From, and zoom in with the USMEF in the global offices. Getting the opportunity to meet all of these wonderful people has helped give me a broader view of American meat production that isn’t just raising cattle on my family farm. The passion that every single person I have met for their role in agriculture is contagious, and it is clear to see the positive impact they are having on the industry. I can’t wait to see what other opportunities this summer will offer!