Penn State Extension will hold an Advanced Beef Cattle Nutrition Course on Thursday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at Penn State University Park's Bryce Jordan Center, 720 Curtin Road, State College.

Practicing beef cattle nutritionists and advanced beef cattle producers will have the opportunity to delve deeper into fermentation and rumen activity, backgrounding and transitioning strategies for cattle, and tools for feedlot producers. Beef cattle nutrition experts Todd Callaway, associate professor of dairy and animal science at the University of Georgia, and Nicolas DiLorenzo, a professor at the University of Florida, will teach the classes.

The fee includes lunch. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants. For more information and to register by 11:45 p.m. on Friday, May 2, visit https://extension.psu.edu/advancedbeef25 or contact Tara Felix at 814-865-0065 or tfelix@psu.edu.

Penn State Extension will offer two ServSafe Food Safety Manager courses in Room 149 at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

One program will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16. The exam will begin at 11 a.m. on May 16. Registration is required by Friday, May 2.

The other course will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. The exam will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25. Registration is required by Wednesday, June 4.

The in-person training will help participants learn how to prevent contamination of food by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling, and serving the food, as well as proper methods of sanitizing food service facilities. The course will be taught by certified ServSafe instructors.

The course fee covers the cost of the most recent edition of the "ServSafe Manager" book, virtual study materials, handouts, class instruction, a review, and the exam.

A second option to help food service managers, chefs, caterers, cooks, and health officials and inspectors prepare to take a Food Protection Manager certification exam, such as ServSafe, is the TAP Online Food Safety Manager Certification course. The online portion can be taken anytime, but the exam is conducted in person and proctored at a scheduled location, typically in conjunction with the second day of the in-person ServSafe class. Alternate exam arrangements can be made with the course instructor.

The online course is self-paced, can be started anytime throughout the year, and must be completed within 180 days of enrollment. There is a fee.

Those who complete the in-person or online course and pass the multiple-choice exam with a score of 70% or higher will receive a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate. This certification is valid for five years.

A third option, the Food Safety Manager Certification Prep Course, is a live online webinar, spread over two days, that prepares participants for the certification exam. Participants receive live instruction from food safety experts without needing to travel.

A textbook will be mailed before the first day's class. After the course, participants may choose from several certification exam options, available in multiple languages. There are separate fees for the course and the exam. Participants are responsible for registering and paying for their chosen exam.

The Food Safety Manager Certification Prep Course will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25. The registration deadline for the live online webinar is Sunday, June 8.

All course and exam options meet the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act.

To register for any of these courses or to learn more, visit https://extension.psu.edu/food-safety-manager-certificate-training-options or call 877-345-0691.