Missouri Beef Industry Council Hold Quarterly Meeting at College of the Ozarks

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. – College of the Ozarks recently welcomed members of the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) for their quarterly board meeting and an afternoon tour highlighting the College’s agricultural programs and facilities.

The MBIC board, which meets quarterly to oversee the state’s beef checkoff efforts, selected the Branson area for this year’s regional meeting. Following their business session at The Keeter Center, the group spent the afternoon touring several of the College’s agriculture departments, including its beef and dairy operations.

According to Sydney Long, executive director of MBIC, these quarterly meetings are essential for guiding how beef checkoff dollars are invested across Missouri. “Our mission is to drive demand for beef,” Long said. “Our board meetings are integral in gathering feedback on projects and campaigns that are taking place across the state. Each meeting allows us to connect with local producers, educators, and industry partners who share that same goal.”

Long emphasized that hosting one of the year’s meetings at College of the Ozarks offered the council a unique opportunity to see how the next generation of agricultural professionals are being prepared for careers in the industry. “Our board was thrilled to see the current meat processing facility and hear about plans for the new facility that is under construction,” Long said. “The livestock and beef farm managers were excellent hosts, and several of the beef farm employees joined to speak with our group as well. The hands-on learning opportunities available to students will prove invaluable no matter where their careers take them.”

College of the Ozarks integrates work education into every student’s experience. In the agricultural department, students operate working facilities such as the College dairy, beef farm, greenhouses, and feed mill. Each operation provides practical training and character development while supporting the campus and local community.

The Missouri Beef Industry Council serves as the state-level organization responsible for administering the beef checkoff program, which funds education, research, and promotional efforts that support cattle producers and increase consumer demand for beef. Through events like the visit to College of the Ozarks, the council strengthens its partnerships across Missouri’s agricultural network.

College of the Ozarks agriculture faculty and students shared the College’s approach to education, which combines rigorous academics, Christian character development, and vocational experience, core elements of the College’s mission.

Long said her team left impressed by the professionalism and hospitality they experienced throughout the visit.

“Overall, it was an excellent experience from start to finish,” she said. “The College’s agricultural setup demonstrates exactly how practical education can prepare young people for success in agriculture and beyond.”

The tour concluded with a discussion of the College’s plans for continued development within its agriculture program, including expansion of processing and livestock facilities that will enhance both student learning and industry collaboration opportunities.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 2 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2025. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 for dining, Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2025 for lodging, and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 from ConventionSouth magazine for meeting and event spaces. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.