FAPC holds fourth annual Media Day
By Stacy Patton
FAPC Communications Graduate Assistant
7-11-2008
STILLWATER, Okla. –The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University held its fourth annual Media Day on July 10.
“The FAPC Media Day is an opportunity for media professionals to learn about the FAPC’s contributions as a research, development, business and technical resource for Oklahoma’s food and agricultural industries,” said Mandy Gross, FAPC communications services manager.
This year’s Media Day featured FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee, composed of Oklahoma agricultural and business leaders. They are appointed by the highest positions of the Oklahoma state government and serve as an advisory board for the FAPC. The Oklahoma State Legislature established the Industry Advisory Committee in Oklahoma Statute 2-5-60.
Members participating in Media Day included; John Griffin, Griffin Food Co. in Muskogee; Jill Stichler, Redland Juice Co. in Slaughterville; Gary Crane, Ralph’s Packing Co. in Perkins; Craig Bernheimer, Unitherm Food Systems in Bristow; Don Randolph, Advance Food Co. in Oklahoma City; Bill Wiley, Oklahoma Refrigerated Services in Oklahoma City; Gary Conkling, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill in Oklahoma City; Charles Nichols, Davison & Sons Cattle Company in Arnett; Virgil Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms in Miami; John Williams, Chef’s Requested Foods in Oklahoma City; and Paul Schatte, Head Country Bar-B-Q in Ponca City.
The members displayed a booth representing their company and participated in a panel discussion during the event. In addition, attendees witnessed three demonstrations of projects performed at the FAPC, including the production of chicken nuggets, packaging of Hottie Pickles’ single-serving packets and conversion of sweet sorghum to ethanol.
Gary Shutt, OSU Director of Communications, moderated the event.
The FAPC opened for business in early 1997, and the 96,000-square-foot stand-alone building houses animal harvesting, food manufacturing, grain milling, sensory profiling, food microbiology and analytical laboratory facilities, as well as conference facilities and applications laboratories for demonstration and prototype testing. In 11 years of service to Oklahoma, the FAPC has assisted more than 1,000 Oklahoma clients through 3,000 technical and business projects.
“The FAPC strives to discover, develop and deliver technical and business information that will stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing in Oklahoma,” said J. Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “The FAPC Media Day was a great opportunity to highlight the food and agricultural companies that serve on FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee.”
For more information about the FAPC, call Gross at 405-744-0442 or visit www.fapc.biz.
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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
