The role of extension and education continues to evolve.
Jessica Sperber, University of Nebraska-Lincoln assistant professor and feedlot extension specialist, says extension’s role is to take the university’s complex research and make it accessible and actionable for producers of all sizes.
Sperber, one of the hosts of “The Future of Beef Show” podcast, takes the hot seat in episode nine and shares her thoughts on mentorship, continuous learning and bridging the gap between academic research and practical agricultural implementation. She says the future of beef production lies in embracing technology while maintaining a deep understanding of animal science and production practices.
Sperber was raised on her family’s fourth generation cow-calf and grain operation located in central Alberta, Canada. Upon completion of her doctorate in feedlot nutrition, she moved to her home Province of Alberta, where she worked in the industry as a feedlot nutrition consultant and technical specialist. She joined UNL in November 2022.
The podcast discussion reviews her career path — from optometry dreams to meat science labs, feedlot technical support and now the statewide feedlot specialist for Nebraska.
Her current role bridges research, extension and education. With a 70% extension and 30% teaching appointment, she gets to engage directly with producers while training the next generation of beef industry professionals. In August 2025, Sperber will transition into a 60% extension and 40% research position at UNL.
During the conversation she highlights several key challenges and opportunities in the beef industry:
- Attracting new talent. Agricultural sciences are seeing declining student enrollment. Sperber says she believes hands-on learning and technological integration can help attract students from diverse backgrounds.
Global protein demand. With global protein needs expected to grow significantly, improving beef production efficiency worldwide is crucial.
“If we can provide safe, high-quality beef in multiple areas of the world, that just increases the amount of mouths that want to consume beef,” she says.
- Data-driven decision making. The industry is moving toward a more precise measurement and tracking of cattle performance throughout the supply chain.
Sperber’s research currently focuses on practical challenges like spay heifer management, water intake and stress reduction in feedyard cattle. She’s passionate about commercial on-farm research that directly benefits producers, emphasizing “you can’t change what you can’t measure.”
Here are the five key takeaways from the podcast:
- Mentorship is critical in agriculture
Sperber explains she has never been turned down when seeking guidance from beef industry professionals and believes finding mentors who are passionate about your interests can significantly shape your career trajectory. - Extension’s role is translating research for producers
Extension professionals help farmers and ranchers understand and implement cutting-edge research in practical ways. - Technology and AI present transformative opportunities
Sperber says she sees significant potential in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology for beef production. Rather than replacing human knowledge, she says these tools can enhance learning, help analyze complex data and provide insights that can improve production efficiency across the beef supply chain.
“If we were to embrace AI and ChatGPT, we could actually produce a learning opportunity for these students that’s above and beyond anything that just one individual could teach them,” she says. “We want to train students in AI and technology to prepare them for the job market and improve beef production practices.” - Hands-on learning is essential for future professionals
She stresses the importance of providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. She wants to create programs that allow students to make mistakes and learn in real-world settings, preparing them better for future careers. Data-driven decision making is the future of beef production
Sperber says the beef industry’s future lies in measuring and understanding aspects of production in more detail. From genetics to carcass quality, the ability to collect, analyze and implement data-driven decisions will be crucial in improving profitability and efficiency across the entire beef supply chain.“Right now, I think we’re really on a positive trajectory on trying to make changes at the cow-calf level that are going to set us up for a lot of success on the plate,” she says.
Sperber represents a new generation of agricultural professionals who are technologically savvy, research-driven and committed to practical solutions that can help producers thrive in an increasingly complex agricultural landscape.
Be sure to check out the podcast to learn more about how she continues to stay rooted in production while pushing the boundaries of science.
