Advisor: Dr. Travis Hoffman Contract Duration: 08/16/2021-05/31/2021 Stipend: $18000/year (20 hours/week) Responsibilities: Take courses applicable to a M.S. Degree with a Local Meats & Sheep Reproduction focus Conduct research projects as assigned with a goal of completed thesis and research/journal and Extension articles. Be a positive ambassador of NDSU and the Animal Sciences Department Provide Graduate Extension Assistantship Outputs: * Create expected meat cutout yield of beef, pork, lamb, and chevon infographics. * Create publications or fact sheets addressing current industry topics related to regulations and a "roadmap" for developing your marketing plan of local foods. * Create curriculum to accompany the butcher beef cut model for Extension agents. * Conduct Spring Local Meats webinar series and regional trainings as requested. * Collaborate with NDSU Small Farms Team, FCW Extension, and Minnesota Local Foods Advisory Committee for curriculum development, and to enhance reach and amplify message of local meat production/consumption. Assistantship appointments may vary in length and are contingent upon the availability of funding. Terms on duties and responsibilities will be provided on the graduate assistantship contract. * Students must be registered for graduate credit each semester (fall and spring) they receive an assistantship and must be in good academic standing and maintaining satisfactory progress toward their degree. In addition, international students must maintain the appropriate residency status. * Teaching assistants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency (refer to section titled "English Language Proficiency Procedures for Graduate Teaching Assistants"). * Students offered a graduate teaching or graduate service assistantship must consent to a criminal background check. This includes graduate researchers teaching in a lab. * Students placed on Academic Warning may retain their assistantship. Students placed on Probation may no longer receive an assistantship. * Required annual training must be completed within 30 days of start date and yearly thereafter.