Oklahoma State University Assistant Dean Receives 2022 BQA Educator Award

Dr. Deb VanOverbeke, assistant dean for academic programs at Oklahoma State University’s Ferguson College of Agriculture, has committed most of her career to the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program and played significant roles in many firsts for BQA.

Originating from a small family feedlot and diversified crop operation near Ashland, Nebraska, Dr. VanOverbeke has always had a passion and dedication to the cattle industry. She has taken an active part in the BQA program for more than 20 years, serving as the first Nebraska BQA state coordinator. In this role, she would travel more than 1000 miles per week, conducting the first “Train the Trainer” sessions in the U.S., educating veterinarians and extension agents on BQA and information from the first BQA producer manual. She also hosted many of the first BQA producer trainings in Nebraska.

Dr. VanOverbeke then acquired two graduate degrees from Colorado State University, where a majority of her research focused on beef quality and live cattle production practices and interventions. Some of her projects included the 1999 and 2000 National Beef Quality Audits and the 1998 – 2001 BQA Audits investigating the incidence of injection-site lesions in beef.

“Having committed so much of her life and career to the BQA program, to me, it's a no-brainer for her to be honored with this award," said Keith Belk, Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences department head. “Deb started her career with BQA, she researched to help improve the guidelines in that space, she helped gather data and metrics of producer's compliance to BQA and identified what needed to be improved. She also helped write the BQA guidelines themselves.”

Over her career, Dr. VanOverbeke has also been a part of the 2005, 2011 and 2016 National Beef Quality Audits, making her one of the primary investigators in these audits. Dr. VanOverbeke’s research was instrumental in advancing BQA guidelines for producers.

“Any of the guidelines that are adopted by the BQA program have to be supported by research,” said Jesse Fulton, Nebraska BQA state coordinator. “That’s why all the work Deb has done is so important.”

Now in an administrative capacity at Oklahoma State University, Dr. VanOverbeke continues to hold a teaching and research role and takes a hands-on approach to education. Known as a pioneer of the boots-on-the-ground approach to BQA education, Dr. VanOverbeke believes in connecting directly with producers and learning what they need to be successful.

“If you think about producers in the 90s, we really needed that message of injection sites and residues. Now we’re seeing most producers making those changes when processing cattle,” Dr. VanOverbeke said. “Now we’re taking the next steps and are continuing to evolve and update.”

Dr. VanOverbeke boasts 81 journal articles, most on beef quality and live cattle production practices and interventions. BQA thanks Dr. VanOverbeke for being a trusted source and expert of applied production practices and beef quality and for being a spokesperson for BQA’s mission of ensuring consumers have quality, safe and wholesome beef, and beef products.