Samantha “Sam” Belanger is from Tampa, Florida. She grew up showing horses around the southeast, moved to North Florida where she became highly involved in FFA; showing and raising Yorkshire swine. Sam attended Auburn University and received her BS in Animal Science with an emphasis in Meat Science. She was president of Block and Bridle, Meat Science Club, and Collegiate Cattlewoman’s. She competed on the Auburn Meat Judging team as well as the Academic Quadrathlon team, where her team went to the Southeastern Regionals. Besides her love for the meat science industry she has played rugby for 4 years at Auburn and continues to play today (when time allows). Sam earned her MS from UGA in Animal Science – Meat Science with a focus on novel antimicrobials and how they impact ground beef stability. Sam is currently working for large multinational food company as a Meat Scientist and R&D Manager.
