In 1999, the red meat industry made a decision to encourage undergraduates into our industry by funding them to do 3 month vocation projects prior to starting their final year of study. These projects were chosen by processors with advice by MLA/AMPC on what could be realistically completed in the time. These projects also demonstrated the value of graduates to processors. Initially, engineering students were targeted but processors soon expanded their demand for all disciplines including some on farm projects.