Near record-breaking numbers of people are gathering in Ames this week for the American Meat Science Association’s 50th-annual Reciprocal Meat Conference.

Iowa State will host more than 500 meat scientists from around the United States and the world for the conference, held June 29 through July 2.

The conference, hosted by ISU’s Department of Animal Science, will cover topics ranging from meat safety to mad-cow disease.

“The exchange of ideas and philosophies concerning the meat industry embraces the mission of the meat conference,” said Frederick Parrish, chairman of the ISU organizing committee. “We try to evaluate which issues will have the largest impact on the meat industry and then discuss those and other topics during the conference.”

One way topics are discussed is through the reciprocation fair. At the fair, which is held during the conference, 60 to 70 posters demonstrating research projects from around the country are available for viewing. In addition, eight topics are selected for lectures.

The topics cover issues like the development of a worldwide meat grading system, communications and the future of the industry.

“This afternoon we are looking at home meal replacement,” Parrish said. “This means that in the future, families could purchase precooked meals that they would only have to heat up without compromising flavor.”

The conference changes location annually to accommodate the needs of scientists and teachers from different parts of the country, but this is not its first visit to ISU.

“Last year it was held at Brigham Young University and next year the University of Connecticut will be the host,” Parrish said.

“It is special for us that the conference is at ISU this year for its 50th anniversary though, especially since the 25th anniversary also took place here,” he said.

Parrish said that while this conference is unique in its activities because of the 50th-anniversary celebration, the primary focus remains on the improvement of the meat industry as a whole.

“We talked about the past 50 years and what we have accomplished,” Parrish said, “but we are also taking a visionary approach by evaluating the present and looking towards the future. We try to address the issues as much as anything, even though this is a golden event.”

In spite of its concentration on current issues, there have been some additions to this year’s conference because of its anniversary.

Everything from t-shirts to golf balls have been produced with the conference’s logo on them.

Also, signs have outlined Elwood Drive for the past week in celebration.

Verlin Johnson of North Dakota was declared the honorary reciprocal meats conference chairman.

“I suppose that the fact that I am the only living representative of the group that met in 1946 in Chicago is the reason I was selected to be the conference chairman,” Johnson said.

The group to which Johnson was referring was an 11-member team which joined to discuss the future of meat judging contests.

Since then, Johnson has been to 51 of the 52 meat conferences.

“In 1957, my boss at North Dakota State refused to pay my expenses to the conference so I was unable to attend,” Johnson said.

Along with addressing industry issues, the sharing of knowledge among those in attendance is an intricate part of the conference, Parrish said.

“Most people think that science is cold and hard like concrete,” he said, “but one of the most important parts of this business is learning to deal with people.”

Johnson agrees.

“This group of people are always a great mix. You can learn as much in the hall talking to everyone as you can from listening to all of the scheduled speeches,” he said.

To encourage socialization, participants in the conference can take tours to the Amana Colonies, Madison County and Story City.

“We have a fantastic group of people that form a great team,” Parrish said.

“At ISU we are blessed with outstanding facilities and people. We have worked together technically and socially to have a great conference,” he added.

The meat conference will conclude on Wednesday evening with an awards banquet at Holiday Inn honoring research teaching and service.