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As a fourth-generation agriculturalist growing up on her family’s row crop and livestock
operation in central Illinois, Amy Down Steward was surrounded by agriculture from
the start.
Down Steward raised Shorthorn cattle and judged livestock, developing a deep-rooted
dedication to the agricultural industry from a young age, she said.
“Growing up in agriculture really influenced me to want a career in agriculture,”
said Down Steward, Tyson Foods’ principal food scientist and 1997 Oklahoma State University
alumna. “My parents were supportive of me, so that was a huge motivation.”
Fueled by her passions, Down Steward pursued a livestock judging career after high
school. After starting at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, transferring to OSU to
finish her degree and compete on the livestock judging team was an easy choice, Down
Steward said.
“Being on the judging team reinforced teamwork,” Down Steward said, “and we were a
very close team.
“That really started to define who I was as a young professional and catapulted into
my time in graduate school,” she added.
Exploring courses during her animal science degree, Down Steward took ANSI 3333 Meat
Science, which sparked deeper curiosities about meat production and processing, she
said.
“We called the course ‘Blood and Guts,’” Down Steward said, “and I absolutely loved
that class. At that point, I knew I wanted to get my master’s in meat science at OSU.
It was definitely a turning point.”
Pushed by OSU mentors and advisers to become involved in meat industry organizations
like the American Meat Science Association, Down Steward was exposed to different
meat science companies and professionals. As a result, she gained access to different
individuals who helped shape her career path today, she said.
“We worked with a lot of different companies at that time,” Down Steward said. “Being
able to take our technical expertise and skills and apply those to projects was a
large part of graduate school, and having relationships built and communication with
those companies was huge.”
Completing graduate school and transitioning into her early career, Down Steward began
her first role at Advanced Food Co. Her passion for innovation pushed her to explore
new opportunities, and she pivoted to a new role at Tyson Foods.
“Whether it’s a career change or a different position within the same company, don’t
be afraid of change,” Down Steward said. “I started out in quality assurance, but
I knew I wanted to be in research and development. I made the move to Tyson Foods,
and I’m so glad I did.”
Moving up the ladder at Tyson Foods, Down Steward now leads the McDonald’s account
global research and development team.
Down Steward takes on many roles in her position, said Gena Bumgarner, Tyson Foods’
senior vice president of sales in Asia Pacific and Europe for McDonald’s. Working
together for almost 19 years, the two have spent time developing and marketing products
for McDonald’s outside of the U.S.
“We call her the nugget expert because she really knows what it takes to develop a
best-in-class McNugget no matter where you are in the world,” Bumgarner said. “From
a leadership perspective, Amy has always been eager to grow and do things outside
of her comfort zone.”
While growing in her role, Down Steward still finds ways to connect back to OSU.
Whether through staying active in the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association or interacting
with colleagues, “bleeding orange” carries into her everyday professional life, Down
Steward said.
“It’s a very tight-knit group of people,” she said. “I still interact on a daily basis
with people I went to graduate school with, whether at companies that are our competitors
or people on our accounts.”
Staying engaged at OSU not only has personal benefits but also affects Tyson Foods’
employee recruitment and retention efforts, Bumgarner said. Down Steward’s ongoing
connections with faculty, alumni and students creates a strong bond between the two
organizations, she added.
“We have a significant number of OSU alumni working at Tyson because of people like
Amy,” Bumgarner said, “and we’ve been able to keep talent flowing to our organization.
She helps keep OSU at the top of mind when we think of the food science space.”
Down Steward’s commitment to authenticity and approachability creates a space where
her mentees feel comfortable to ask questions, Bumgarner said. Her efforts to build
community allow Tyson Foods to attract, retain, and develop talent, she added.
The impact of Down Steward’s dedication goes beyond employee engagement and reinforces
the partnership between Tyson Foods and OSU, said Gretchen Mafi, animal and food sciences
professor.
“Because of Amy’s commitment to our programs, our relationship with Tyson continues
to thrive,” Mafi said. “Having that strong of a relationship with a major potential
employer we can send our students to is an incredible asset.”
Down Steward’s commitment to the success of OSU animal and food sciences does not
go unnoticed. In 2024, she was named the OSU Animal and Food Sciences Advanced Degree
Graduate of Distinction.
“Her awards speak for her presence and the commitment she has,” Bumgarner said. “It’s
a key part of who she is, and she is dedicated to developing the ‘next Amy’ from OSU.”
In addition to professional accomplishments, Down Steward has extended her commitment
to developing the next generation of animal and food scientists by establishing a
scholarship fund in memory of her father, David Down, for out-of-state livestock judging
students.
“I want to give back because I give 100% of the credit of success in my career to
my time at Oklahoma State,” Down Steward said. “It’s important for me to give back
to not only the school but also to the students.”
Down Steward’s scholarship fund honors her family’s agricultural legacy and creates
meaningful opportunities for students within the department, Mafi said.
“Her scholarship is a testament to her passion for our program,” Mafi said. “It helps
ensure we can attract talented individuals and shape the next generation of leaders.”
Through supporting students, Down Steward is investing in the future of the industry
as well as helping preserve the values instilled in her growing up, she said.
“A lot of it is about passion for my family’s legacy in agriculture,” she said. “Looking
back to the history of my family is really important to me.”
Story by Grace Bryson | Cowboy Journal
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