Contact: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Davey Griffin, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service meat specialist and associate professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, has been named American Meat Science Association Fellow and Signal Service Award winner.

The award was given in recognition of devoted service and lasting contributions to the meat industry and to the association, according to officials. The Signal Service Awards are sponsored by Keystone Foods, Johnsonville Sausage Company and Elanco Animal Health. Griffin will be honored at an awards banquet June 18 in Auburn.

“Davey’s contributions and leadership in AMSA has shaped the course of its youth development programs,” said Dr. Thomas Powell, association executive director. “His dedication to these programs, as well as the entire meat industry, are equaled by few and exceeded by none, making him a worthy recipient of the Signal Service Award and being named an AMSA Fellow.”

Griffin is a native of Corsicana and attended Texas A&M University, graduating with three degrees in animal science – a bachelor’s degree in 1979, a master’s degree in 1981 and a Ph.D. in 1989. Between his master’s and Ph.D. degrees, Griffin worked in the pre-management training program and as a sales representative of Oscar Mayer and Company. Griffin began working as an Extension meat specialist in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University in 1989 and is an associate professor and Extension meat specialist.

Griffin serves as a liaison between industry, commodity groups, medical and dietary professionals and Extension personnel to provide research information and technology. His key program and interest areas include cutability and composition of carcasses associated with value-based marketing, current consumer issues concerning meat and meat products, youth development, and cooperative research projects.

Griffin is the faculty advisor for A&M’s meat judging program and works with the Texas FFA meat judging program. He currently serves as the superintendent for carcass shows for the San Antonio and Houston stock shows. He has also served numerous times on the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest Official Committee, and has been instrumental in the adoption of a common list of retail identification cuts and coding for both 4-H and FFA beginning in 2012.

Griffin has designed award-winning programs for the livestock and meat industry. According to his award nomination, his greatest work was the creation of the Beef 101 program, which began in 1989. Thousands of people from all around the world have participated in this hands-on workshop designed to allow people to learn the basics of beef.

Griffin also helped with the development of the Beef 706 and PORK 101 programs, and has served as a key leader in these on-going workshops. In 2006, Griffin became the executive director of the Texas Association of Meat Processors where he provides outstanding leadership for the group of small and very small processors. American Meat Science Association recognized him  in 2008 with the Distinguished Extension-Industry Service Award.

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