What does it take to win Best Wagyu Steak in America?

This week on The Meat Dudes Podcast, we're joined by Logan Peters and Alex Heine of North 40 Beef in Nebraska, winners of both Best Wagyu Steak in America and the People's Choice Award at the American Wagyu Association convention in Oklahoma City.

We helped cook and judge the competition, and North 40's winning steak delivered on both appearance and flavor.

We talk about their focus on premium F1 Wagyu-Angus crosses, why fine marbling makes a difference, and how their Nebraska corn-fed finishing program helps create the beef they're known for.

We also tackle some bigger questions: Is American Wagyu fake? Why are some chefs still skeptical? Is Wagyu too expensive for everyday consumers? And are we putting too much emphasis on marbling instead of the actual eating experience?

Plus, we get into underrated cuts like Denver steak and top sirloin, simple Wagyu cooking techniques, and what the future of American Wagyu could look like.

A great conversation with two ranchers who are producing award-winning Wagyu beef and helping make it more accessible.

Find North 40 Beef: https://northfortybeef.com

WAGYU, It's just better beef.

Be on the lookout for The Meat Dudes Approved Wagyu Map launching in December 2026:

https://themeatdudes.com/the-meat-dudes-approved-wagyu-maps-learn-more

The Wagyu Olympics are coming to Texas!

On this episode of The Meat Dudes, Evan sits down with Russ Hobbs of Rebel Wagyu to talk about Wagyu Zenkyo North America, happening November 12–15, 2026, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Brenham, Texas.

This isn't just another cattle show. It's a celebration of everything that makes Wagyu beef special, bringing together ranchers, breeders, chefs, and beef lovers from across North America.

Russ breaks down the cattle competitions, how ultrasound technology measures marbling potential in live animals, the differences between Japanese Black, Akaushi, and percentage Wagyu, and why the next generation of ranchers is so important.

We also get into one of our favorite subjects: STEAK!

The Wagyu steak competition will feature blind judging, a focus on flavor over marbling, and CASH PRIZES for champion and reserve champion entries!

Plus, we're talking about the potential health benefits of Wagyu, the science behind great beef, and why events like this help people understand that Wagyu is a spectrum.

EVENT DETAILS:

November 12–15, 2026

Washington County Fairgrounds

1305 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham, TX 77833

Event information and registration: https://wagyuzenkyo.com

Questions or interested in entering the steak competition?

Contact Russ Hobbs of Rebel Wagyu:

Phone: 318-547-3226

Website: https://rebelwagyu.com

The Meat Dudes will be in Texas helping cook, judge, and celebrate some incredible Wagyu beef. Come hang out with us!

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and share it with your meat-loving friends and family.

WAGYU, It's just better beef.

The story of American Wagyu didn't happen all at once.

One of its earliest chapters began in 1975, when four Wagyu bulls legally made their way from Japan to the United States for research.

In this special episode, we're joined by 105-year-old Dr. John Matsushima, who was directly involved in that history, along with Dr. Keith Belk of Colorado State University and Dr. Matsushima's family.

We trace what happened to those original four bulls, why they came to America, the research conducted at Colorado State University, and how those early genetics helped set the stage for American Wagyu.

But this was only the beginning.

Without females, those first bulls couldn't create the Fullblood programs we know today. Later imports of Japanese bulls and females in the 1990s would become another enormously important chapter in the development and expansion of American Wagyu.

This episode is about documenting the early part of that much bigger story.

We also dig into the myths surrounding those original cattle, the origins of Japanese Black and Akaushi genetics in America, how Fullblood Wagyu became possible here, and why the history of American Wagyu can be so difficult to piece together.

We're not trying to rewrite Wagyu history.

We're trying to preserve it.

The Meat Dudes — Helping People Find Better Beef.