Travis Meteer grew up on a family farm in central Illinois where raising livestock taught him valuable lessons. Now, Meteer is a beef cattle specialist with the University of Illinois Extension.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to grow up on a farm with hardworking parents who encouraged my siblings and I to be actively involved in the farm and livestock projects,” he said. Both 4-H and FFA were a big part of his youth livestock experience.
Upon graduating high school, he attended Lake Land College where he was a part of the livestock judging team, then transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in ruminant nutrition.
Meteer said he is grateful for his mentor, Doug Parrett, for encouraging him to pursue a career in Extension.
He prioritizes making time to answer producer questions and serve as a consultant. He also spends time developing meaningful programs, resources and producer decision aids.
Developing research trials that are applicable to Illinois beef cattle producers is also something Meteer takes pride in, according to Meteer. He is regularly bringing producer questions to university researchers with the aim of answering them with unbiased research.
Meteer said one of his favorite things about his job is doing on-farm visits where he can see what is happening on the ground. “Being able to stand side by side with a producer on their farm allows me to better understand all components of their operation and better aid them in making profitable decisions,” Meteer said.
He manages the Illinois Performance Tested Bull program where he works with purebred cattle breeders across the state.
Meteer is also involved in the Illinois State Beef Quality Assurance program which serves as a continuing education opportunity for cattle producers. He says the BQA program helps producers think through animal care and welfare while focusing on best management practices and producing safe, wholesome beef.
He said that while the state is famous for row crop production, beef cattle have an important place in Illinois agriculture. From grazing rolling lands, to utilizing ethanol co-product, to local beef sales, to being a big part of 4-H and FFA livestock projects, Meteer says beef cattle production in Illinois can look different from farm to farm.
One of the good things Meteer said he believes has come out of the COVID pandemic is that there are more consumers pursuing information on locally raised beef.
He also said it has been good to see younger generations come back to the farm and champion the beef herd.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
The Cooperative Extension Service has played an extremely important role in transferring basic research from the Land Grant Universities to farmers/ranchers across the nation. It also, through individuals like Travis Meteer, carries important feedback to those researchers who often aren’t as closely connected to individual farm/ranch operations. Meteer clearly has his finger on the pulse of the beef industry in Illinois and takes a great deal of pride in what he does for a living. He is also very passionate and optimistic about the future of the beef industry in his state and across the nation. This is a great time to be optimistic – cattle prices at an all-time high, consumer demand high and, yes, people are seeking out locally produced beef.
Now is a great opportunity for you to partner with a local beef producer to feature their products as a complimentary bonus when farmers/ranchers purchase a new truck or SUV. This creates a valuable connection with the producers in your area, and consumers would love it as well. Perfect timing for that July 4th BBQ coming soon….
