University of Kentucky
Food Science Club

The University of Kentucky Food Science Club kicked off the 2004-2005 school year with a very successful semester of speakers and fundraisers. Dr. Ann Hollingsworth, IFT Past-President, and Dr. William Mikel, University of Kentucky, each presented ideas and provided insight to new careers and opportunities in the area of Food Science and Culinary Arts. In addition, the club raised a net profit of over $5000 through ice cream and milk shake sales at the annual Kentucky State Fair.

The first annual meeting was held at the local Krispy Kreme production facility and café. There, students and faculty took a tour of the production area and enjoyed freshly glazed doughnuts. Throughout the fall semester UK Food Science Club participated in and planned such events as the local Bioterrorism Dinner and Suppliers Night for the Bluegrass Section of IFT.

This past October, the University of Kentucky Food Science Club visited the Mississippi State University Food Science Department for a tour of their top-of-the-line Muscadine Jelly and Edam Cheese processing facilities. Our Food Science Clubs first met in Memphis, TN for an observation and briefing at the new state-of-the-art Kraft Culinary Facility. At the facility, students learned of the different careers in Culinary Arts, Technical Sales, and Flavor Enhancement. The clubs then toured Newly-Wed Foods processing facility in Horn Lake, MS. After the MSU departmental tour, the remainder of the weekend was filled with football game tailgates, a Halloween party, haunted houses and socials. Even though the University of Kentucky Wildcats were not victorious at the football game, our members buddied-up with the Bulldog Food Science Club members and made new, lifelong friends. The UK Food Science Club was excited to welcome the Mississippi State University Food Science Club to Lexington for tours of Yum Brands Inc. and various bourbon distilleries across Kentucky. Rivalry was added to the weekend through attendance of the UK Wildcats vs. MSU Bulldogs basketball game.
The UK chapter of the IFT Student Association has participated in a variety of service activities during the previous semester as well. In fact, the UK Food Science Club received recognition for collecting and donating the most canned goods to the Thanksgiving Food Drive coordinated by the UK College of Agriculture. The club also sponsored multiple children in the Christmas Angel Trees Program in the Lexington-Fayette County Region.
Last spring, the UK Food Science Club hosted a series of events including the IFT Student Association Southeastern Area Meeting and College Bowl Competition. Other events included speakers from Sara Lee and KFC. The students from the University of Kentucky traveled to the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 16-20. The UK Food Science Club was a finalist in the IFTSA Chapter of the Year Competition!
This year the club looks forward to new speakers, trips, tours, and community service projects. If you would like more information on the University of Kentucky Food Science Club, contact Georgina Anderson at gaande2@uky.edu.