State dinners often consist of, but are not limited to, black tie or white tie dress, military honor guards, a four or five course meal, musical entertainment, dancing, and speeches made on behalf of the head of state hosting the state dinner as well as the foreign head of state.
Jerky is lean meat that has been trimmed of fat, cut into strips, and then dried to prevent spoilage. Normally, this drying includes the addition of salt, to prevent bacteria from developing on the meat before sufficient moisture has been removed.
That way you can make thin slices (about a 1/4 inch thick) without cutting off your finger, or worse, swearing. Most beef jerky recipes will tell you to slice WITH the grain, meaning they recommend you slice parallel with the existing muscle fibers in the meat. The purpose is to help the meat stay together.