Abstract Graduate education and training has traditionally centered on advanced coursework and the development of research competency and technical skills. Nonetheless, fostering career readiness requires integrative experiences that emphasize real-world experiential learning, industry-relevant practices, professional interaction, and leadership development. Established in 2012, the Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp program is a one-week intensive program designed to prepare graduate students for professional roles in feedlot nutrition and management. Since 2018, the program has operated under the oversight of the Plains Nutrition Council, a professional organization designed to promote discussion and interaction amongst individuals working in the various sectors of the beef feedlot industry. Participants in the program include Ph. D and M.S. students in graduate programs that emphasize training in feedlot cattle nutrition, and represent over 23 institutions across the United States and Canada. The Boot Camp employs a combination of classroom instruction, feedlot site visits, problem-based learning activities, and networking with feedlot professionals and graduate student peers. The program also promotes problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. Participants are exposed to practical nutrition challenges under the mentorship of feedlot nutritional consultants, technical consultants, business executives, and a robust advisory council comprised of individuals from academia and industry. Participants indicate the program is a high-quality training experience that increases knowledge and promotes exposure to multiple employment pathways. Therefore, the Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp has become a critical training tool in preparing the next generation of feedlot professionals to meet early career challenges and establishing a talent pipeline to identify skilled and competitive graduates and enhance job placement.
Samuelson et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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