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Wisconsin Union, Bucky’s Varsity Meats debut new beef snack sticks

Posted: 05/16/24

Wisconsin Union, Bucky’s Varsity Meats debut new beef snack sticks

The Wisconsin Union and Bucky’s Varsity Meats teams have developed and launched a brand-new product, called the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Sticks, which supports hands-on student learning and leadership opportunities.

Customers can purchase the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Sticks at the following Wisconsin Union dining locations: Badger Markets in Engineering, Ingraham, Memorial Union, and Union South; Capital Café in Grainger Hall; Carte in Memorial Union; the Chazen Café; and Sett Recreation in Union South.

The Wisconsin Union and Varsity Meats began a collaborative beef snack sticks development process in spring 2022. Together, they developed beef sticks that combine 100% Angus beef with the nutty, earthy, slightly sweet flavor of mustard seeds, the tanginess of ground mustard and the subtle sweetness of garlic. The recipe development process included the teams taste-testing several batches before arriving at the final flavor combination.

"It’s a great experience for re-establishing our relationship with food by knowing where our meat comes from, how it’s made and what kind of work actually goes into the process, from farms to store shelves," said Dillon Walker, UW–Madison Meat Plant operations manager. "Our students get direct hands-on experience from live animal to finished product. We love the opportunity to supply campus and Madison with our product!"

Bucky’s Varsity Meats crafts the beef sticks on campus with meat sourced from campus-run farms and local businesses.         

"Collaborating with Bucky’s Varsity Meats was the perfect opportunity to support meat science learning at UW–Madison by creating beef snack sticks that help fund animal and dairy sciences education and Wisconsin Union student leadership opportunities,” said Carl Korz, Wisconsin Union associate director for dining and hospitality services. “We’ve created a protein-packed, delicious way to power people’s days, which is locally made, from ingredients-sourcing to production. Production takes place less than two miles from all the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Stick outlets.”

Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Stick purchases support the Wisconsin Union’s low-cost and free events and student leadership opportunities as well as the Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery program real-world learning opportunities.

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