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CUMULATIVE COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO

Cumulative Communication Portfolio

Sarah Sisk

ALCE 3634

Spring 2017

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ……………………………………………………………….…………… 3

Demonstration Presentation

Demonstration Plan ……………………………………………………………..……… 4

Visuals…..………………………………………………………………………………. 5

Self-Reflection………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Informational Presentation

Informational Plan ….…………………………………………………………..……… 8

Visuals ……..…………………………………………………………………………. 12

Self-Reflection ………………...……………………………………………………… 13

Prepared Talk

Manuscript ……………………..………………………………..……………………. 14

Visuals ………………………………………………………………………………… 21

Self-Reflection …………………...…………………………………………………… 22

Poster

Abstract ………………..………………………………………..…………………….. 23

Visuals …………..……………………………………………………………………. 28

Self-Reflection ..………………………………………………………………………. 29

Cumulative Self-Reflection …………………………………………………………………... 30

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Executive SummaryMy passion is agriculture, specifically advocating and the swine industry.

Taking a public speaking class is not always the most enjoyable, but his class gave me the perfect opportunity to speak on these topics and improve my public speaking abilities. Throughout the course, I gave presentations on swine and the swine industry, 4-H, and antibiotic use in livestock, all relating back to agriculture advocacy. This opportunity to improve my advocacy ability helped me grow towards being a better advocate in the future and an effective extension agent.

After graduation, I intend to pursue a career as an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent. As I stated, being given the opportunity to choose a subject of interest to me and speak on it was advantageous to me and my future career, which is why I choose agriculture advocacy and the swine industry as a theme for this class. Throughout this portfolio you will see several research papers on the effects of pork on your bodies and antibiotic use, two very controversial topics that I was glad to be able to speak on. Other presentations include a demonstration on building a pig pen and the benefit of 4-H on youth and leaders.

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Demonstration PresentationTitle: Learning to Build a Pig Pen

Objective: At the conclusion of the demonstration, the audience will be able to…

The audience will be able to

- build a proper and safe pig pen- understand the sanitary reasoning for placement of resources in the pen.

References, Equipment, Supplies, and Materials Needed:

Visuals:

Model of pig pen

Supplies and Equipment:

Cart

References:

Fournier, M. P. (2016). Raising Small Groups of Pigs. http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/livestock/pigs/raising-small-groups-of-pigs

PREPARE (purpose, importance, and/or need for the skill/task as well as overview of the procedures)

Agriculture students and people in general care about the wellbeing of animals. Knowing how to build a proper enclosure for pigs, or any animal, is important not only for those who plan on raising them, but to know how an animal is being properly cared for.

SHOW (model steps and procedures)

STEPS (What To Do) PROCEDURES (How To Perform the Step)

Safety, explanation of items needed

Explain the items needed to build (fencing, 8 2x4s, PVC, water nipples, feed pan, 3 3ft 2x4’s, 8x10 sheet of corrugated metal, 8 T-posts, nails, screws, fencing nails, hammer, saw, measuring tape, concrete, and ratchet straps) and safety measures that need to be in place.

Measure and pour concrete Measure the area that you want for the base of the pen (approx. 50cu ft per pig, L twice of W), then mix and pour the concrete needed.

Build lean to Build the house at the north end of the pen

Install fence Install T-posts or wooden posts, then install the fence panels into the ground so that the pigs will not root under it and install a door

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Build waterer Cut PVC tube to desired height, drill hole for nipple and insert, set waterer in the corner opposite of the house because pigs will poop where their water is and you want that away from feed and shelter.

DO (practice the skill/task)

To review I will ask students to name the key points of the pig pen and where they belong in relation to each other.

REVIEW (summary of key points)

Review the components of the pig pen. Question audience: Where should the door be? Where should the water and feed be? What materials do you need?

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Visuals

Self-Reflection I felt that my training demonstration went moderately well. There are several things that I

would have changed looking back on the demonstration and I hope to learn from them. I was able to use a slide show and a model as visuals, which were well accepted by the audience. Clarity came in the form of clear speaking and a loud enough voice for the room, I was also able to add variability with inflection. At the end of the presentation I asked this audience questions about building a pig pen as a small quiz to interact with them. Preparation was the key for timing and pacing for this demonstration, I had to ensure that I got in all of the points within the time allotted without going to quick.

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Some areas of improvement are in my use of filler words like ‘um’ and looking to the slide show. This was a huge error in my mind because I did not even need the slideshow, I could have given the presentation without any other resources. I also need to improve my slideshow by having fewer words on the slide. I also, from feedback, realized that I should have provided a resource for the class, such as a handout with the information I was presenting.

I do believe that my model was a strong point for the presentation and that my ability to speak clearly helped to convey my message to the audience. When planning for this demonstration I took into consideration the wide range of knowledge on the subject, which was an influence on the plan. Some of the members of the audience had vast knowledge in the area, others some, and still others had no knowledge on the subject whatsoever. This led me to keeping the presentation short and to the point, without getting too technical, but having enough general information to cover the topic.

Within the five components of communication I believe that I need to work the most on interaction and enthusiasm. Some feedback indicated that my lack of smiling was taken as a lack of enthusiasm. For me smiling during a demonstration is a bit difficult and I feel that enthusiasm can be seen through passion, which is conveyed when a person speaks. I also hoped to have had a better vehicle for interaction within the demonstration, but unfortunately this did not happen. In the future I would like to be able to have an activity, but if not at least a fill in the blank sheet or a questionnaire would suffice.

Informational PresentationPresentation Title: What is 4-H?

Objective(s): At the conclusion of the presentation, the audience will be able to…

Define the organization

List key benefits of 4-H.

List areas of interest of 4-H.

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Describe the 4 h’s in 4-H.

Explain the goal of 4-H.

Audience Analysis:

Virginia Tech Agriculture and Life Sciences College students, males and females, 18 to 20 years old, 1 teacher and 25 students. Some have 4-H background or knowledge, others have minimal to zero knowledge about what 4-H is.

Visuals, Equipment, Supplies, Materials and References:

Visuals: Power point, handout with key points

Supplies, Equipment, and Materials: projector, laptop, handouts

References: 4-H/Youth. http://www.ext.vt.edu/4h-youth.html

OPENING (Introduction) TimeRaise your hand if you were involved in 4-H growing up. How about if you were involved in a different leadership and knowledge based organization. 4-H is all about growing our future generation through many different means. 4-H is a youth development program within Cooperative Extension with participants ages 5 – 19. 4-H is a volunteer led, research based, community centered and family oriented program.. 4-H’s philosophy is “learning by doing” and encourages kids to try new things often and participate in a variety of activities.

Today I am going to share with you what 4-H, the meaning of the 4 H’s, the goals of the organization and benefits of being a 4-H member. I will also share statistics, along with the areas that youth can become involved in. Lastly, I am going to share with you my experiences so you can understand firsthand what 4-H means to its members.

1 minute

Directions / Visuals / Materials CONTENT OUTLINE (by Objectives) Time

Powerpoint/handout Youth participants are able to learn and buildo Leadershipo Citizenship

2

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o Confidenceo Citizenshipo Real work skillso Skills within their program areao Hands on experienceo Independenceo Compassion

Powerpoint 4-H Members are: 4 times more likely to give back to their

communities 2 times more likely to make healthier life

choices 2 times more likely to participate in STEM

activities 2 times more likely to be civically active 2 times more likely to at grade 10 and 3 times

more likely at grade 12 to participate in science programs outside of school

1

Powerpoint Program Areas

Camp All stars State congress Equine Companion animals Healthy living International Art Shooting sports Environmental and natural resources Youth leadership Livestock

1

Powerpoint My own experience

-swine club

-livestock sale

-great friendships

-life-long skills

-hard work

1.5

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-finances

-leadership

-professionalism

-helped me find my calling

APPLICATION TimeQuiz / handout What are the 4 h’s in 4-H?

Head, Heart, Hands, Health

What are some of the areas of interest in 4-H?

Agriculture and livestock clubs, family and consumer sciences, art, shooting, environmental and natural resources, youth leadership, companion animals, horses, health, leadership

Who can participate in 4-H?

Youth ages 5-19

1

CLOSING TimeI hope you all now have an understanding of what 4-H is and how beneficial it is to youth who .5

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participate. We have covered statistical research on the benefits, listed benefits, program areas, basic info, and my own experiences. By now you should have an understanding of what 4-H is, the goals of the organization, areas of interest, and benefits of being in 4-H. Being a part of 4-H was one of the greatest experiences in my life and my opinion, the same as many others, is that 4-H did a lot to get me ready for the real world. Are there any questions?

Visuals 4-H

Motto: _________ by ___________

4 H’s: ______________, _______________, __________________, and __________________

Ages of participates are ________ to _______

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Some program areas are __________________, _______________, _______________, _______________, ________________, _________________, ___________________, _______

Some benefits of 4-H are __________________, _______________, _______________, _______________, ________________, _________________, ________________, __________

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Reflection

For the informational presentation I p-resented on 4-H and my own experiences. My main

reason for choosing this topic was because of questions I had in a previous topic that I was

unable to address because of time constraints. I knew a lot of people already knew about 4-H and

my own experiences so I decided to give more than just a simple definition so that even those

who did have previous knowledge would be able to learn something.

For the presentation, I spent a few days reviewing the presentation and brushing up on

knowledge so that I would be able to flow and answer questions that might arise. I also decided

that I would incorporate the audience by asking them questions and giving them topics to think

about when it comes to 4-H.

Both my peers and I feel that I need to be more enthusiastic when I present. I have a hard

time smiling and talking at the same time, I feel weird. But, that comes off as not being

enthusiastic. This is also biggest characteristic I think that I need to improve upon. I also need to

proof my visuals better and make sure that they are not too wordy so that everyone can read them

and not be distracted from what I am talking about.

Compared to my demonstration plan I think that I have improved. I hadn’t spoken in

front of our group when I did the demonstration, so naturally I was a little nervous. I also had

never given a detailed speech on that topic, so it was a little different. The topic I chose for the

demonstration plan was a little labor intensive, so that hindered my ability as well. In the

informational presentation, I think that also did a better job of not using filler words, this was

something I struggled with in the demonstration plan.

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Prepared TalkThe Truth about Antibiotics Use in Livestock

Thank you, Rebecca, for that lovely introduction. As she mentioned, today I am going to

be discussing the facts about our meat animals being treated with antibiotics during their

lifetime. I am going to cover the reasons for using antibiotics, myths, FDA and USDA approval

information, and finally how the use of antibiotics affects our food industry. I hope that you will

take an open-minded approach to this very controversial topic and listen to the facts I will be

presenting by credible sources before making any assumptions. (Animal Smart)

I think that it is extremely important as consumers to take an interest in what we

consume. With all the possibilities for illness and contamination in our current world, rightfully

there is concern about how animals are treated and with what they are treated before slaughter.

As consumers, we all want to have safe food, this is a concern of farmers as well and a standard

that they attempt to meet.

The controversial aspect of antibiotic use is the false stigma that the antibiotics have

growth components to them. This is simply not true and the antibiotics widely used in prevention

and rehabilitation are approved by the FDA. One of the concerns is that the animals are growing

too fast because of growth hormones. The reality is that the antibiotics are keeping the animals

healthier, allowing them to grow faster and stronger, very similar to a healthy child. The

antibiotics allow growth by killing bad gut bacteria and assist in the conversion of feedstuffs into

muscle; there are no hormones in the antibiotics. (American Meat Institute)

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As I mentioned, I would first like to cover the reasons why antibiotics might be used in

raising livestock. Antibiotics are widely used in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and

practically every other meat animal consumed. There are two main reasons that antibiotics might

be used: prevention and rehabilitation. Just as with humans, antibiotics are used to treat infection

in livestock animals. The difference, however, with livestock is that they are far more prone to

infection than humans. Thus, the second reason for antibiotic use: prevention. This is not

something that is possible for humans, so for some it doesn’t make sense. Antibiotics are one of

the best lines of defense for animals, defense against threatening infectious diseases. (Animal

Smart)

Prevention is one of the most important reasons that antibiotics are used. Because there

are multiple animals in one area the spread of infections is easy. They are sharing water and feed

troughs and can spread bacteria from licking, rubbing noses, or even laying on each other. There

are times, such as at weaning, that preventative antibiotics will be used and it often leads to a

healthier animal that will need less antibiotics over its lifetime. Had they not received this

preventative dose, the stress of leaving the mother could lower their immune system and it has

shown to lead to the use of antibiotics more throughout the life of that animal for illnesses.

(American Meat Institute)

Whether an antibiotic is used in a livestock animal or a human, a veterinarian or a doctor

is part of the process. In humans, there is often an overuse of antibiotics that can lead to

resistance. This can occur in animals too, which is a concern for veterinarians and one that they

try to limit by only using antibiotics when necessary and choosing the right one for the situation.

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Some of the antibiotics that are given to livestock are also used for humans, such as penicillin’s,

cephalosporin’s, sulfa, macrolides, tetracyclines, and others. This bears the question, if these

antibiotics are safe for humans, why do some believe that they are not safe for our animals?

(American Meat Institute)

I stated before the antibiotics are controversial because of increased growth in the

animals and people are concerned with the same antibiotics being in the food. This is a valid

concern, as I have also mentioned I think that it is reasonable to be conscious of what goes into

your body. Here is the thing, antibiotics have withdrawal periods. This means that the antibiotic

cannot be administered a certain number of days before slaughter. A common antibiotic,

Ivermectin, has a 21-day withdrawal, so farmers cannot vaccinate their cows with Ivermectin 21

days or less before slaughter. On top of that all meat that is put into market is inspected before

they are approved to be sold. This precaution ensures that whatever animal byproduct is going

into our grocery stores is safe to be eaten. (USDA)

When an animal falls ill, the quick response of the farmer is essential. The animal’s life

could be at risk and the animal is that farmer’s livelihood and someone’s dinner. The use of

antibiotics to cure an illness is essential for livestock and herd health. Once one animal gets a

sickness, it is so easily spread to the next as I mentioned before, and thus begins a domino effect.

Once one animal is sick, it spreads to the herd, then the entire herd could be completely wiped

out, that means that the farmer is now without income and possibly in debt and there are less

cows on the market. You may think one farmer's cows won’t change much, well if all the

farmers in that county stopped using antibiotics to treat illness then the cost of beef in that area

could go up. And so on and so forth you can see the repercussions. (Animal Smart)

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As I stated before the FDA and USDA regulate which antibiotics are safe for use in

animals and the time period they should be used before slaughter. They also regulate the

inspection of meat after slaughter for safety to be placed in markets. Now, I am a firm believer

that the FDA does not always get everything right and there are some things on the market that

are not safe for us, but this is one thing I believe they did right and regulate well, however I still

advocate for people to be their own researchers. Don’t always listen to what you see on the news

or hear from your friends. Doing your own research gives you the peace of mind of knowing that

you have done due diligence to ensure you have the best information possible. (USDA)

The FDA and USDA have strict guidelines for which antibiotics are safe for use. There

cannot be a trace of residue left in an animal's system once it goes to slaughter. There is a group,

called the Food Safety and Inspection Services, which performs these checks. Once the animal is

found to have any hint of antibiotic residue they are completely removed from the slaughter

house and all the animals from that farm are rechecked. Then they contact the farm to take

corrective measures.

The American Meat Institute cites some myths about antibiotic use that I feel are

important to share. The first myth is that antibiotics would not be needed if livestock were raised

in better conditions. My first statement to this is that farmers would not be able to feed the world

if all of the animals were raised “organically” – which is what most people believe is the “better”

way to raise livestock. Farmers take all steps necessary to ensure that their animals have fresh

water, safe food, and good living areas. At some point an animal is going to get sick, it is

inevitable, just as with humans. At that point the animal will need antibiotics and it will have to

be labeled as a conventionally raised animal. Is the solution to kill that animal to keep it

“organic”? That doesn’t seem very logical to me.

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The next myth is that 80 percent of antibiotics are used in animals. This may be a true

statement, only it lacks an important component of the argument, context. Of the meat animals

raised for consumption there are roughly ⅓ as many humans. One steer may weigh 1200 lbs.,

which is the equivalent of 5 to 6 men. So, of course these animals will require more antibiotics

and the industry will require more because there are more animals. (American Meat Institute)

Have you ever thought that humans may become immune to antibiotics if they are used in

food livestock? The vast majority of antibiotics that are used in the livestock industry are not

used for humans, and the ones that are used for humans and animals comprise a miniscule

amount. For example, Tetracycline is used in animals and humans but only makes up 4% of the

antibiotics used for humans and is often used for livestock. On the other hand, Ionospheres are

used about 70% of the time in animals but never in humans. So this is not a concern. (American

Meat Institute)

Some say antibiotic resistant infections in humans often come from meat and poultry products.

The facts presented in this instance are that most antibiotic resistant infections come from

hospitals and other health care facilities. This is unfortunate, but because of the constant and

necessary use of antibiotics in these facilities the bacteria begin to become resistant. Most other

infections are caught from community interaction, touching skin, or in crowds. (American Meat

Institute) There is little to no research proving that this myth is in fact true. (USDA)

The last myth that I would like to touch on is like the one I just mentioned; only the

misconception is that antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasing. The contrary is the case. The

USDA sample data shows that bacteria on raw meat are decreasing. Between the careful

attention of farmers and the advancement in practices infections are declining. I will note that

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one type of infection may become resistant to one antibiotic, as in with humans, but it is quite

rare that an infection cannot be treated at all. (American Meat Institute)

I’ve covered a lot of critical information, but I appreciate you all taking the time to hear

what I had to say about this controversial issue. I have discussed myths, uses, and how the use of

antibiotics affects our market, cost and availability of meat for consumers. Everyone has their

own preferences, but my belief and what scholarly research shows is that the meat that is in our

market is safe for consumption. I urge you to not believe everything that you hear about the

agriculture industry and antibiotics, and encourage you to do your own research instead.

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References

American Meat Institute (n.d.). The Facts About Antibiotics in Livestock & Poultry Production. Sort Fact from Fiction. Retrieved from https://www.meatinstitute.org/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/99943

Animal Smart (n.d.). Why are Antibiotics used in livestock production? Retrieved from http://animalsmart.org/animal-health-animal-welfare/antibiotic-use-in-livestock-production

USDA (n.d.). USDA’s Response to Antibiotic Resistance. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/50601-0004-31.pdf

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Visuals

Reflection This speech was much more fluid for me. It’s a topic I am passionate about and I felt more comfortable talking for some reason. I did prepare more for this speech because of it’s length and significance. I wanted to ensure that I was giving accurate information in a form that would be easily consumed by the audience. I knew that this was possibly going to be a very controversial topic within the class, as it is within the world. The feedback that I received from the class was mostly very positive. Several of my classmates recognized that I had improved in this speech from the others that I had presented. Most of the class felt that I was clear in my speaking and timed the speech well. Those also mostly agreed that it was a easy to follow presentation. My enthusiasm was seen by some, and to others they felt I was too stern during the presentation. I have not quite figured out a happy medium for this. Some of the negative comments were that I did not move around enough, I did not participate with the class, and my references were missing from the slideshow. My comments to these are that I felt like I moved enough without moving in front of the slide show because the

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images were what I was speaking from. I had intended to have an element of participation but ran out of time at the end. I did forget to put my references on the slide show which I feel was a big mistake because it took away credibility. I was overall happy with most of my presentation. There were some things that I had wanted to say that I did not because I did not use my script, but I was also happy that I did not use my script and a few minutes into the presentation I put it down and didn’t even look at it again. I think this made me look more relaxed and knowledgeable about the topic because I didn’t have to look for information in my paper. If I could present this research again I would focus on some interaction to see what some of the audiences opinions were on antibiotic use. I would also have liked to clearly state where the research came from to help with credibility. Overall I think that I effectively persuaded and called to action the class. Compared to my informational presentation I felt more prepared and relaxed giving this presentation, even though I probably know more about my informational topic. In preparing for this speech I honestly did not think through strategies as much as I should have, this may have made the presentation even better. I did think through my visual aids a bit and I think that the way I designed the slide show was to the benefit of the audience. The images completely correlated with the topics I was speaking on and gave them added information.

Poster

Pork:Examining Health Benefits and Risks

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Sarah Sisk, Undergraduate Student

Virginia Tech ALCE 3634

1. 31. 17

Introduction

Pork has been consumed for seven thousand years or more and it is estimated that thirty eight to forty percent of meat production and consumption in the world is pork. The most common pork consumers are Asian countries and Europe. In 2015 the world produced almost five billion carcass pounds of pork. In comparison beef production is around three billion carcass pounds. (“U.S Pork Exports”, 2015)

Pork is the number three most consumed meat in America as of 2012. In 2012 American’s consumed about forty two pounds per person, compared to beef and chicken which are fairly close to sixty pounds per person each. Pork consumption has been relatively steady over the last hundred years, especially compared to the substantial rise in chicken consumption and the regularly fluctuating beef consumption, which would normally mean other meat choices are dropping in consumption. These astonishing numbers beg the question: if so many people eat pork, why is it considered an unhealthy meat? (Barclay, 2012)

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One of the common topics amongst nutritionists and health nuts is the health benefits, or lack thereof, of eating pork. It is commonly thought that pork leads to cardiovascular and other health issues. There are many different cuts of pork, all having different amounts of fat, changing the nutrition components and health effects. Generally speaking however, pork is very similar to beef. Both meats are high in protein, which is typically a component of a healthy diet. (Murphy, Thomson, Coates, Buckley, & Howe, 2012)

America is considered a nation of meat eaters, but with the rise of organic farming, vegetarianism, and animal activist groups, meat consumers stop to think before they purchase meat in the grocery store. Pigs often can carry Trichinosis and other parasites, the CDC notes that only about 10,000 out of 318,900,000 Americans get Trichinosis yearly, with pork being the most common carrier. (“Parasites – Trichinellosis”. 2012) Some studies show that there is a cancer risk from bacon and processed pork, however, there has been no conclusive evidence to support this theory. If this is the case, then why do so many humans around the globe consume pork? (Murphy, et al., 2012)

Most of the risks with pork, as with any meat, comes from the preparation. Undercooked or uncleaned pork can cause the spread of many different illnesses and diseases, but this is not uncommon of any kind of meat and with such a low number of illness cases yearly, pork does not seem like the most harmful meat on the market. (Murphy, et al., 2012)

The above statistics on pork consumption prove that Americans, and humans alike, enjoy pork products. With the huge buzz around bacon recently, this isn’t surprising. Being unhealthy won’t get you to the top of the list for the entire world, so is pork healthy to eat on a regular basis? Are some cuts of pork healthier than others? Should pork be consumed a certain way to prevent unhealthy side effects? (Murphy, et al., 2012)

Review of Literature

There have been many studies recently around pork consumption and its alleged unhealthy side effects. The misconception around pork is that it is loaded with saturated fat. Many of these studies focus on weight loss/gain and effects on the blood, which can lead to cardiovascular issues. Since protein is such a necessary component of our daily diets, incorporating lean protein from pork could help in weight loss. (Murphy, et al., 2012)

In one study done by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 144 overweight adults were to incorporate approximately 2.2 lbs. of pork in their diets each week in place of other protein sources, mainly pork and chicken. Researchers found that all participants had normal systolic and diastolic blood pressure after eating the pork. Compared with the control group, who ate their normal meals, the group who ate pork weekly were able to decrease their overall weight, BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, abdominal fat, and body fat composition. The study also found that there was no effect on the lean mass, which means that all of the

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weight lost was fat mass, not muscle mass, debunking the myth that pork is an unhealthy meat. (Murphy, et al., 2012)

Another study, presented by The Weston A. Price Foundation for Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts, focused on the effects of different variations of prepared pork on the blood. Participant’s blood was reviewed before and after eating pork prepared in different manors. Testing the blood is the quickest way to monitor changes in response to nutrients consumed. Each participant was given about three ounces of pork to consume. The various forms were unmarinated, apple cider vinegar marinated, uncured prosciutto, and uncured bacon. This study found mixed results. When one participant, age 52, consumed unmarinated pork blood analysis clearly shows that blood cells aggregated together. When the same participant consumed marinated pork, the blood cells examined are freely moving. After a 37 year old female consumed uncured bacon her blood was shown to be moving freely, quite similarly to the sample taken before she ate the bacon, the same happened when the 52 year old male ate prosciutto. It is clear from this study that there is a significant difference on the effects of cured and uncured pork on the blood. Consuming unmarinated pork leads to blood coagulation, while consuming processed forms of pork does not produce blood coagulation. (Rubik, 2011)

Cambridge completed a study in 2008 which tested the regular consumption of n-3 fatty acid enriched pork and its cardiovascular effects. N-3 fatty acid is an important component in our daily nutrition, brain function, and overall health. The study presented tested pork that was enriched with DPA and DHA from fish oil, the pigs were supplemented with the fish oil during regular feedings 6 weeks before slaughter. The study tested whether 12 weeks of enriched pork consumption had health effects on healthy men and women, a total of 29 participants completed the study. Each week the participants consumed a little less than half a pound of the enriched pork and were instructed to not change anything else about their diet. The results found no significant change in BMI or weight, however it did show that n-3 enriched pork can significantly raise the n-3 content of erythrocytes, which are a negative risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Adding in n-3 enriched pork can potentially have substantial positive effects on cardiovascular risks. While this type of enriched pork is not readily available yet, positive research is leading to the advancement of pork producers using supplements that support these theories. (Coats, Sioutis, Buckley, & Howe. 2008)

Implications to Society

All three studies show that pork can have a positive effect on the human body. As with anything, the best practice is moderation. Replacing even a few servings of meat with pork can actually have leaning effects since the lean pork will target fat mass not muscle mass. Protein is essential to any diet. It is often stated that protein can be found in many forms, but the best kind of protein comes from lean meat. Lean mean provides not only protein, but essential nutrients that are important for our bodies. (Barclay, 2012) Most lean meat contains vitamins such as B12, which can only be found in animal foods, creatine, D3, carnosine, and DHA. These vitamins are

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important for brain function, lean body mass, skin health, and muscle tissue. B12 prevents anemia, metal disorders, dementia, and lowered brain function. Creatine is important for energy, brain function, and muscle formation. Vitamin D3 comes from the sun, deficiency in this nutrient has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Carnosine is a popular anti-aging supplement, but lower levels have been found in brain disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. DHA is a well-known Omega fatty acid that keeps us from getting sick and has been shown to have an effect on brain development in fetuses. These vitamins are too important for our health and well-being and the best form is what is naturally found in meat. (Murphy, et al., 2012)

Advice to Others/Conclusion

As with just about anything in life, moderation of pork consumption is key to health. Effects to the body that are caused by pork consumption vary depending on the current health of the person consuming the meat. An overweight or person with cardiovascular issues, should most likely stay away from fatty pork products such as bacon or pork belly. For an in shape and otherwise healthy person, the addition of pork products, lean mainly, can be a welcomed addition to their diet. Adding in lean pork to an already health conscientious diet can also lower body mass index, abdominal and overall fat percentage, and waist circumference. In addition to weight loss benefits, pork can add niacin, vitamin B12, zinc, and thiamine when consumed regularly. The best suggestion for those who are concerned with the health effects of pork on their own diet is to visit a nutritionist or doctor. Otherwise, education on healthy aspects of pork is something that needs to be focused on. There are many opportunities or pork education, in the classroom, on farms, and even in markets. Having readily available, credible information, can offset false information that is even more readily available on various media outlets.

References

(2012). Parasites – Trichinellosis. Retrieved from cdc.gov

(2015). U.S Pork Exports. Retrieved from www.pork.org/quickfacts

Barclay, Eliza. (2012). Visualizing a Nation of Meat Eaters. Retrieved from npr.org

Coats, Sioutis, Buckley, & Howe. (2008) Regular Consumption of n-3 fatty acid-enriched pork modifies cardiovascular risk factors. Retrieved from Cambridge.org

Murphy, Thomson, Coates, Buckley, Howe. (2012). Effects of Eating Fresh Lean Pork on Cardiometabolic Health Parameters. Retrieved from ncbi.nlm.gov

Rubik, Beverly. (2011). An Investigation via Live Blood Analysis. Retrieved fromwestonaprice.org

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(2012). Parasites – Trichinellosis. Retrieved from cdc.gov

Visuals

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ReflectionI will start my reflection off by saying that I was slightly unprepared. I did not pay

attention to the schedule and lost track of time, so I didn’t have the time to prepare like I would like. This was evident in my first couple of times presenting, but as I got more comfortable with the material I think I improved. The research I did was also intense, and I forgot a few of the facts that I wanted to touch on. I used a few filler words at times and lost my train of thought. If I do this type of information intensive presentation again I feel that it would be in my best interest to spend time practicing and reviewing the material.

I greatly enjoyed the topic that I researched and feel that it was very insightful for the audience. They seemed to be captivated by what I was saying and asked thoughtful questions which led me to believe that they were interested in the topic as well. Having a good topic is incredibly important when trying to keep an audience’s attention, as well as turning the topic into something that can be beneficial to them. As with my other presentations it was mentioned that I needed to be more enthusiastic. I think that I conveyed my passion well during this presentation and that the audience should know that smiling is not the only way to be passionate about something.

Lastly, the time constraint that I was on made me feel rushed, so I wasn’t able to say everything and it also made me forget because I was focused on the time and looking at the clock. Next time I will try to focus on not looking at the clock because it made me anxious. I also think that preparation will help me to not rush and stay within the time constraints.

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Cumulative Self-ReflectionAt the beginning of this course I was quite honestly very annoyed that I had to take a

public speaking class, because I felt that I already had good speaking skills. I had spoken in

public multiple times over the years and enjoyed it for the most part. I normally did not get

nervous or anxious for speaking engagements and did well speaking off the cuff. I didn’t think

that there would be anything for me to learn and that it would be a waste of time. I was wrong.

The very first presentation was eye opening for me. I did not prepare because I had the

mindset that I didn’t need to. I knew the topic that I was speaking about, but I honestly didn’t do

that well overall. Once I got up in front of the audience I fell into the mistakes that a lot of people

make when speaking, like saying um, looking at the visuals too much, and missing points. I

knew that I had a lot to work on and needed to be better prepared for the next presentation.

The next presentation was better than the first by a great deal. I prepared beforehand and

focused on saying only the things necessary to convey my message. I didn’t have visuals for this

presentation so they were not a distraction for me or the crowd. I had very positive reviews from

my peers and they noticed an improvement between my first presentation and this one. I was

overall more confident and prepared for this presentation. After this I knew that the most

important part of a speaking engagement was preparing for it by practicing and reviewing your

materials.

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By my final presentation, I was by far a very confident speaker. This was the prepared

speech, which was the longest speech and the one that I was most worried about in the

beginning. I was very involved in this topic which helped, but I also spent a good deal of time

reviewing my paper and practicing the speech. Once I spoke in front of the class I was confident

that I could cover the entire paper during the amount of time that I had, without using my notes. I

also had a visual presentation that was much better than the ones that I had prepared before. This

one was only pictures and I tried hard to connect the images to the topic I was speaking about

during that time frame. This helped me remember the sequence of the speech and overall give a

better presentation.

I think that there are many areas that I was able to grow in during this course. Being able

to watch others present gave me the ability to see how annoying and bothersome noises and other

distractions that I am guilty of can be. Seeing what other people do during presentations also

gave me the ability to see what I liked and what I didn’t as an audience member and allowed me

to incorporate the well-liked activities or techniques into my own presentations. I feel being an

audience member gave me one of the most beneficial rewards from this class.

Being an audience member also showed me the importance of visuals. There are some

topics that visuals are not required for or can cause distractions. I think that before this class I

was not always the best with visual representation, but seeing what others did allowed me to

tweak my own habits. I usually made PowerPoints that were sometimes too wordy or had too

much going on, but it was especially evident to me that pictures only can be effective during my

final presentation when my PowerPoint only included images and it helped me present while also

being just enough visual aid for the audience to understand better what I was talking about

without being too distracted.

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Another distraction that I was often using was hand motions. Hand motions can be good

if used in moderation, but sometimes they can be distracting. I have often held my hands in front

of me about midway down my body with the fingers touching. This was a comfortable place for

me to hold them because I often used my hands for effect. Seeing other people do this I felt like I

was watching their hands more than them because I was waiting for the next time they would be

used. So, I felt an alternative to this was just keeping your hands at your side because that is

more natural and more common, and also less distracting.

I am normally a mover when I talk, I like to be able to move across the stage or area so

that I can have good eye contact with everyone in the room. When I had visuals, I found it very

hard to move across the projector without it being too distracting, which was a bit unnatural to

me. Instead of moving my entire body I found that rotating my body was an easier way for me to

visually connect with the entire crowd instead of having to move across the front of the room.

This gave me an opportunity to connect with all of the room without having to be interrupt the

images on the board behind me. If visuals are not being used I think that I will still be the kind of

person who moves across the stage during a presentation, but hopefully I will have a chance to

practice this to determine if it is distracting or not.

Having constant feedback during the semester was incredibly helpful. It gave me the

chance to see through someone else’s eyes to determine what I needed to improve upon. One of

the most often criticisms of my presentations was that I didn’t smile enough or I didn’t show

enthusiasm. I have to disagree on this particular one, I don’t think that there needs to be a smile

on my face to show enthusiasm, some topics are not conducive to a smile. So, to convey my

enthusiasm I tried to show more inflection and passion in my voice as an alternative to smiling

constantly. This seemed to really work, especially during my final presentation on antibiotic use

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in livestock. I know that I am passionate about that subject, but I feel that it showed to the

audience through my voice and gestures more than it could have with a smile.

This was a very well rounded and beneficial course to me considering that my hopeful

profession will provide me the opportunity to practice my speaking skills regularly. As an

extension agent I will often speak to groups, individuals, stakeholders, and children. This could

be in a casual way, a workshop, or even a board meeting to share my ideas on a subject. Being

able to perform a demonstration presentation helped me focus on some areas I need to improve

in because of how often I will be presenting workshops and demonstrating them. The other

presentations helped me to improve for one on one and also more formal presentations that I will

surely be completing in the next few years.

As an advocate for agriculture through my profession I have to be confident to speak to

individuals about a variety of agriculture practices, but almost most importantly ones that are

controversial. I chose my final presentation on antibiotic use in livestock because I am passionate

about giving the correct information to people but also because I have not always had the

opportunity to speak to a crowd who may not agree with me about a controversial topic. This

truly showed me the most improvement in myself throughout the entire semester. I felt I much

more poised and prepared for this presentation and having the opportunity to speak on this type

of topic was very beneficial because as an agriculturalist I will often have to defend facts to those

who are not always prepared to hear them.

The last topic that I feel was very beneficial to learn about was business place and

interview etiquette. Both of these topics will be used very soon in the future for my careers,

although we did not practice these skills I think that I gained knowledge in the areas so that I will

be able to improve my own skills in my own time.

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Overall I was very happy with my improvement over the course of this semester. I had a

very negative mind in the beginning, feeling like I didn’t have a lot to improve when I actually

did. I think I improved the most in my clarity and visuals, but I also gained more insight on how

to talk to people in a group, what to do with my hands when talking, and how to show

enthusiasm. I also think that being given the opportunity to speak multiple times very close

together was incredibly beneficial to see improvement and to grow my skills. I am overall a more

confident speaker now as well because I have had the opportunity to speak, learn my mistakes,

and grow from them.

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