Concordia Nebraska agriculture students host biennial McLean Beef Dinner

Concordia University, Nebraska agriculture students put into practice the skills and knowledge they learned in the spring semester at the biennial McLean Beef Dinner. The April 21 event was hosted at McLean Beef and students from Concordia’s agriculture program. Dr. Kimberly Clark, Concordia Nebraska associate professor of agricultural sciences, helped organize the event.

“[The students] strengthen technical skills in food preparation, safety, communication and teamwork, and also use those skills to serve others creating an event that enriches our community while showcasing the talent and professionalism of our students,” said Clark.

The students involved in this event were enrolled in AGRI 340 – Food Products, Processing and Safety. For the dinner, the students not only prepared all dishes that were served, but they also talked to the attendees about the cuts of meat used to prepare the dishes and why that cut of meat was selected, what cooking methods were used and why to prepare each dish.

“The Dining Experience is one of the most meaningful learning opportunities in this course because students move beyond the classroom to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting.”

The event was sold out with about 40 attendees present.

The dinner was a three-course meal, with three appetizer options, four main course options and three dessert options. The students designed the dishes working in teams. Teams were assigned either pork, beef, chicken, dairy, eggs or grains as their main ingredient. They then selected a recipe to execute that fit their assigned primary ingredient. This process allowed students to learn about working in a kitchen and in teams while using their communication and planning skills.

This year, students crafted dishes including steak kebabs, dill pickle deviled eggs, and cheese and herb stuffed chicken breast.

“The Dining Experience is one of the most meaningful learning opportunities in this course because students move beyond the classroom to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting,” said Clark.

Students involved in the 2026 McLean Beef Dining Experience include:

Caden Beck, Bennington, Nebraska

Layne Benedict, Seward, Nebraska

Alexis Carlen, Staunton, Illinois

Selah Draper, Fresno, California

Evan Hill, Bridgeport, Nebraska

Dustin Kapke, Wilber, Nebraska

Kailyn King, Daykin, Nebraska

Nathan King, Clarinda, Iowa

Joshua Luehr, Wood River, Nebraska

Carter Meier, Pierce, Nebraska

Jenna Muntz, Louisville, Nebraska

Joshua Ringler, Seward, Nebraska

Trey Robertson, Wallace, Nebraska

Lane Schoff, Bertrand, Nebraska

Kayla Svoboda, Wisner, Nebraska

Thomas Thomas, Hastings, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska’s agriculture program equips students with a well-rounded and balanced educational program that challenges them to become effective communicators, critical thinkers and ethical decision-makers. Concordia’s Christ-centered, excellent academics prepares students to be leaders in the agriculture field through dynamic, real-world learning experiences so they can inspire and serve others and fulfill their callings.