Arts & Entertainment
Amuse Bouche: Curve vs. corner, who knew?


Published
2 years agoon
Posted By
Admin

By Scott Mechura EBS COLUMNIST


Sometimes, our lives are made better, easier or more enjoyable by the unlikeliest of people.
Take for example the Kingsford charcoal empire being a direct byproduct of the scrap wood from Henry Ford’s assembly line Model T, or perhaps the popular children’s toy, the slinky, being the end result of engineer Richard James’ pursuit of a spring to soften tension and noise on U.S. warships.
Such was the case for Mary Temple Grandin, an autistic child born into well-to-do Boston parents.
Imagine growing up with autism in the 1950s urban-sprawl America.
We knew so little about autism in those days, so trying to assimilate with other kids, in any way an elementary pupil knew how in 1950s Boston, had to be very difficult under regular circumstances.
But moderate wealth allowed her parents, and more so her mother, to cure her daughter of what was being diagnosed as “brain damage,” a diagnosis that stuck with her until the age of 63, when cerebral imaging at the University of Utah put that to rest and fully embraced her condition as autism.
Young Temple Grandin underwent extensive speech therapy and special education and was able to not only overcome some of her challenges, but go on to earn a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in animal science and a doctoral in animal science.
So why am I telling you about this autism pioneer in an Amuse Bouche column?
Well, every time you enjoy a steak, specifically for its tenderness, there is a good chance that Temple Grandin had something to do with it.
Cattle are curious animals by nature but they are also cautious and skittish. They are naturally afraid of humans in kind of an “it’s not you it’s me” sort of way.
Couple that with a human’s own natural tendency to force the issue and coerce a cow to go where they want them to go, often against the desire of said cow, and it’s a recipe for a tough steak.
Cowboys and corners are abrupt. Abrupt is change. Change is stress, stress is adrenaline and other amino acids quickly getting released into the muscle tissue. When these flood the muscle tissue, it tightens it, readying it for fight or flight. Whether a predator, a blizzard, intense heat, navigating deep river water, the prod of a ranch hand or even the sight of watching their newborn calf get restrained for an ear tag, adrenaline doesn’t know the difference.
Cattle didn’t want to go around a corner they didn’t know, particularly if they couldn’t see their brethren. So naturally they got prodded, which makes them stressed both psychologically and physically. They then either scurry frantically or they freeze and stand there. So, more prodding. Temple Grandin helped show that this was an unnecessary catch 22.
But at its core was her discovery that corners stress cattle out far more than curves do.
This is similar for sheep, lamb and pigs, but not to the same degree as it is true for cattle. That’s to say that the wiring in a cow’s brain is at its calmest when it meanders; when they have a natural flow to the direction in which they walk, particularly in a group or herd.
Temple Grandin herself designed pens and shoots with no corners and distances proportionate to two to three body lengths before making another turn. They also generally tend to almost end very close to where they started.
Livestock handlers at first thought this to be silly and a waste of money. But what few bothered to notice was that a cow also has a natural instinct to return to where they were, once their curiosity is satisfied.
After successful demonstrations of her pen and shoot designs, the entire industry began making changes to their physical spaces.
Cliché, I know, but Mary Temple Grandin is a livestock whisperer.
Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry. He is an executive chef, former certified beer judge and is currently the executive chef for Horn & Cantle at Lone Mountain Ranch.
Upcoming Events
december, 2023
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Religious Services
Sports
Event Details
Local Showcase Founder and director Klaudia Kosiak came up with the idea three years ago to organize, celebrate and empower the many talented women of Big Sky through artistic expression. Now,
more
Event Details
Local Showcase
Founder and director Klaudia Kosiak came up with the idea three years ago to organize, celebrate and empower the many talented women of Big Sky through artistic expression. Now, the event is one of the most anticipated of the year. With support from Kosiak’s friends Jill Bough and Liz McRae, the three recruited female artists of all ages to participate. “I want to promote women in Big Sky who are just living everyday life but want to do something special with their talents,” Kosiak said. “Many are hesitant at first, but this evening is so special and once they perform for the first time, they often want to do it again.”
Time
(Sunday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
45465 Gallatin Road
04dec5:00 pm5:00 am24th Annual Madrigal Dinner5:00 pm - 5:00 am Event Type :ArtsEvent City:Big Sky
Event Details
Missouri Ballroom at Big Sky Resort 50 Resort Road 5:00pm | $80 Tickets: https://bigskyarts.org/events/26th-annual-madrigal-dinner-2023 Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for the 26th annual Madrigal Dinner on Monday, December
more
Event Details
50 Resort Road
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for the 26th annual Madrigal Dinner on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 5 p.m. in the Missouri Ballroom at Big Sky Resort. Marking its 59th year, the Madrigal Dinner is a production of the Montana State University School of Music. To many it is considered the traditional opening of the holiday season and is one of the winter highlights for the Big Sky Community!
The evening begins with a no-host bar at 5 p.m., followed by seating for the dinner promptly at 6 p.m., in preparation for the Ceremonial Procession of the Lord and Lady of the Manor and their guests. Olde English customs are the theme throughout the evening, including fanfares introducing the Ceremonial Procession, the Wassail Bowl and Christmas Toast, the Boar’s Head Procession and the Flaming Pudding Dessert. The Montanans serenade guests throughout the evening and are joined by Voces Luminis (ssaa) for the concert finale. The dinner closes with the audience joining the musicians in singing familiar carols.
Tickets include a rustic dinner and festive music from the Montana State Montanans, the MSU Brass Quintet, and the Voces Luminis (ssaa). Tickets are on sale now and by reservation only. Please click on the “Get Tickets” button below to purchase.
You will have the opportunity to request seating near guests outside of your party through a questionnaire prompted AFTER you make your purchase. We will do our best to accommodate all requests! If you have any questions or need more information, please call 406-995-2742.
Time
(Monday) 5:00 pm - 5:00 am
04dec7:00 pm8:00 pmBig Sky OUT: Queer Climbing Night7:00 pm - 8:00 pm BASEEvent City:Big Sky
Event Details
First Monday of every month (through March) Climb from 7 to 8 p.m., free for BASE members, $20 for non-members. To reserve a spot: Register online with BASE,
Event Details
First Monday of every month (through March)
Climb from 7 to 8 p.m., free for BASE members, $20 for non-members.
To reserve a spot:
Register online with BASE, email bigskymtpride@gmail.com, or send Instagram message to @bigskyout
Time
(Monday) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
BASE
285 Simkins Dr