Colorado CattleWomen hosted a tour of AgNext CSU in Fort Collins on April 25, 2025. CattleWomen and Beef Ambassadors joined us on the tour to view and hear about the research going on at AgNext. AgNext is a leader for research in animal and ecosystem health while enhancing profitability of the supply chain.  They serve as the crossroads for producers, industry partners and researchers to come together to innovate real-time solutions for sustainability in animal agriculture.

While in Fort Collins, the group was fortunate to meet with Dr. John Matsushima, who is the subject for this year's Ag in the Classroom Literacy Project book, 'Cattle, Corn, and Courage – The Story of Dr. John Matsushima'.

Dr. John Matsushima is an agriculture icon whose innovative process of steam flaking corn changed the cattle industry forever. (Cows absorb more nutrients from steam flaked corn allowing them to gain weight more efficiently.) Beef ambassadors along with Colorado CattleWomen were afforded an interview with this amazing man. Three Custer County Beef Ambassadors Alexis Grossardt, Sage Shy and Mitchell Van Deusen (far right), along with CCW beef ambassador co-committee chairs Sudzy Benesch and Sara Shields, were privileged to meet with the 104-year-old in Fort Collins in the Animal Science Building at the CSU campus. Also pictured are Kellen Larson (Otero), Henry Burk (El Paso) and Paige Bigler (Weld) and of course, the legendary Dr. Matsushima in the middle.

The Beef Ambassadors also toured the meat processing facility where Beef Sticks for Backpacks are made.