Callen Veit of the Morrison FFA Chapter earned the title of State Star in Agriscience during the fifth session of the 99th State FFA Convention and Expo May 7 at the BOK Center.
Veit started his project in eighth grade and has continued it for five years of research at the Oklahoma State University Animal and Food Science. His five research projects focus on improving beef quality and reducing beef waste through the use of natural antioxidants.
Veit shared that his fourth study was his favorite. He said, “I developed a software application that could predict the running shelf life of beef cuts. That was by far my hardest, most time-consuming project, so I do have a little soft spot for it in my heart because it was something that has never been done before and can be implemented in real-world scenarios, so I’m really proud of that project.”
His stepping stone into FFA in the eighth grade was the agriscience fair, and his involvement increased each year. He found a passion for public speaking and also competes in farm business management, the Animal Science Quiz Bowl, and is a chapter officer.
“My biggest FFA highlight was my freshman year,” he shared. “I was at the National Convention, and I was the youngest one there – it was mainly a bunch of seniors and juniors. There were about fifteen or twenty of us – it was a big group. I remember being the baby of the group, and they were all like taking care of me, but it was an awesome experience. Beyond that, the Washington Leadership Conference this last year was also one of my best experiences in FFA.”
Veit explained that his first lab research revolved around natural antioxidants extracted from plants, herbs, or spices that also improve beef color. Pomegranate rind extract was the subject of his first study, and the research proved that it did improve the color of beef over time.
“Really, the majority of my research was focused on improving beef color, because when we go to the grocery store, most consumers are looking for that bright red cut, and when they see brown, they usually associate it with spoilage, but that is often not the case,” he interjected. “Brown meat is just as edible and safe to consume as red meat. My research is really focused on improving consumer appeal of beef.”
He went on to explain that lipid oxidation is the actual process of beef spoilage. The process begins when oxygen comes in contact with the meat, and it begins to degrade, the color being first. He explained how it goes from a red myoglobin to a brown metmyoglobin, and then, much later, the meat will finally deteriorate enough to affect the taste and texture.
He plans to major in Ag Business at Oklahoma State University with an eye toward law school, but he hopes to continue his research during his college career. “I have spent so much time on it and invested so much and have really fallen in love with this topic,” he said. “Even if I’m not conducting research, I know it will continue at Oklahoma State, and I am excited to see where it goes.”
He thanked Dr. Ranjith Ramanathan for allowing him access to the labs at OSU, the grad students who have assisted in his research throughout the years, his agricultural education instructor, and Tammy Will, his science teacher at Morrison High.
The State Stars were selected from the Area Stars across the state. This year’s 19 Area Stars each received a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by the Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s of Oklahoma, The Chickasaw Nation, Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Davis Farms, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, Noble Research Institute, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
As the State Star in Agriscience, Veit and the other State Stars will each receive $29,737 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. The late Carl C. Anderson, after whom the State Star awards are now named, was born in Naples, Oklahoma, in 1911. One of 10 children, he dropped out of high school to earn money and support his family. From those modest beginnings, the Anderson Corp. grew across the country as well as in Canada and South America.
FFA is an integral part of the agricultural education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,500 members and 369 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the sixth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org
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