Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Officials gathered Wednesday morning to dedicate Arkansas State University’s meat lab after it received a $750,000 grant to fund new equipment.

The grant, from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development, funded new equipment, a new roof installation, and updated refrigeration in the lab. The new equipment includes a roll stock vacuum packaging machine, snack stick cutting machine, vacuum stuffer, meat grinder, and meat mixer.

A-State’s Meat Lab partnered with Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (AHFH) beginning in 2023 to produce meat snack sticks for weekend backpack programs across Arkansas. The sticks are made of venison, which officials described as high in protein, nutritious for students, and shelf stable.

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AHFH is a nonprofit organization that helps combat hunger in Arkansas by donating game meat to food pantries and shelters across the state at no charge.

“The upgraded lab is going to serve as a key training resource, allowing us to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students in agriculture and food production, including high school students and those pursuing new credentials through CREST,” said A-State provost Dr. Will McLean.

The CREST, or Career Readiness Education and Skills Training Center, is a partnership between A-State, ASU-Newport, and Arkansas Northeastern College, and will train students in steel technology, manufacturing, and industrial controls. The first phase of the center’s education will focus on steel, food, and artificial intelligence-enhanced manufacturing.

The Meat Lab, which students learn and practice meat processing and packaging similar to commercial operations, makes more than just the snack sticks. It produces other red meat products, which are sold at the Judd Hill Farmer’s Market on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

AHFH distributes the snack sticks to 70 schools across 48 counties. In Arkansas, 639,490 people struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America.

“Through this partnership, nutritious food will reach children through school programs statewide, and at the same time, students here are gaining hands-on experience with equipment that will help them prepare for their careers,” said Arkansas Community Foundation CEO Jessica Ford. “We’re feeding children today and investing in people and innovations that will help feed Arkansas tomorrow.”

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