We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Benjamin Rajo has joined the Department of Animal Science as our new Assistant Professor and Mountain Livestock Specialist, with an appointment split between 75% Extension and 25% Research. Benjamin, a native of Honduras, managed a beef cattle operation in his home country for nearly eight years following the completion of his B.S. in 2012 from Zamorano Panamerican Agriculture University. He went on to earn both his M.S. (2023 and Ph.D. (2025) at NC State University, where his doctoral research focused on investigating the role and interplay of physiological and nutritional parameters in optimizing efficiency and productivity in beef cattle. His Extension and Research programs will focus on evaluating the interactions between environmental variables and the physiological and genetic mechanisms that influence variations in animal performance and productivity. Ultimately, these programs aim to enhance the productivity, efficiency, and quality of livestock raised in Western North Carolina and beyond. In addition to his passion for agriculture and livestock production, Benjamin enjoys soccer, cooking (especially grilling steaks!), playing board games, and spending quality time outdoors with his wife, Carolina, and their two young sons, Benjamin and Martin. Benjamin can be contacted through email at ebrajo@ncsu.edu or by calling the Mountain Research Station's office at (828) 456-3943.