By Misty Martin
Texas Beef Council
High school culinary educators from across the state are benefiting from an ongoing partnership that drives instructors, students and industry experts to reach the next level of excellence using beef. The 13th Annual Texas ProStart Culinary Educators Training Conference allowed 130 high school instructors the chance to participate in the two-and-a-half-day conference, held at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio.
The training is a partnership between the Texas Beef Council (TBC) and the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
“The conference is held each summer and is designed to provide culinary arts instructors with the skills and knowledge to reach the highest levels of culinary standards in their classrooms,” Robert Hale, product marketing manager at TBC, said. “Attendees experience hands-on lab time with industry experts, learn the latest in culinary trends and network with their peers and industry professionals.”
TBC knows that demand for careers in foodservice will only continue to grow, and chef education will play a vital role in industry success. By equipping culinary arts instructors with the latest, most up-to-date information and industry movements, the future workforce will also gain the same helpful knowledge about beef.
“Beef is an important element of the conference,” Russell Woodward, senior manager of Product Marketing at TBC, said. “This year, TBC offered five hours of beef training throughout the conference. Beef really makes a big contribution to a restaurant’s bottom line. ”
TBC is a large supporter of continuing education projects like the Texas ProStart Culinary Educators Training Conference. Participants of this year’s course could earn more than 25 continuing educations units for attending the session.
TBC conducts the $1 per head national checkoff program for Texas beef producers and is also the contractor for the Beef Promotion Research Council of Texas (BPRCT), which administers the $1 per head Texas state checkoff program. TBC’s mission is to increase beef demand in the state through programs of beef promotion, research and education.