AAMP's Pre-Convention Workshop was held in the meat laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  This workshop was designed to merge an educational componet of University Professors and the application component from meat processors. It was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance.

 

  

AAMP members filled the room for the welcoming session to officially begin the convention.  AAMP President, Dennis Schaardt, welcomed everyone to the 70th Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition Thursday morning.  The F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award and the Outstanding Service Award were presented during this session. 

  

 

 

F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award

The recipient of the 2009 F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award was Mid-Western Research & Supply, Inc., Wichita, KS.

 

 

Outstanding Service Award

The recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Service Award was Merlyn Eickman, Pecatonica, IL.

 

   

  

The exhibit hall opened at 1:00 pm with a presentation by AAMP President, Dennis Schaardt while surrounded by his family and members of the AAMP Board of Directors.

  

 

The exhibit hall was filled with 159 booths representing 105 suppliers exhibiting throughout the 3 day trade show.  Other activities such as cash drawings, meat industry demonstration areas, and a kid's competition were also scheduled in the exhibit hall.

The Welcome Reception was held at Lewis & Clark Landing along the Missouri River.  Members of the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors (NAMP) greeted attendees as they arrived at the river for a fun-filled and relaxing evening.   

AAMP would like to once again thank the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors for their contributions and assistance with the Welcome Reception.

 

 

 

 

 

Although the 2009 American Cured Meat Championships began on Thursday afternoon.  Products were evaluated throughout the day on Friday by experienced judges from all sectors of the meat industry.  A total of 734 products were entered in 25 classes, including this year's regional class of Specialty Flavor Small Diameter Cooked/Smoked Sausage.

AAMP featured three half-hour hands-on meat processing demonstrations. With a crowd of over 150 convention attendees, three of your fellow meat processors took their award-winning products from the 2008 American Cured Meat Championships and produced each one, hands-on, from start to finish. Jon Frohling, Frohling Meats Inc., Hecla, SD, produced summer sausage; Dan Weber, Weber Meats of Geneseo, Inc., Geneseo, IL, a boneless ham; and Greg Endres, Greg's Meat Processing, Hampton, MN, demonstrated the production of his ring bologna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attendees looking to enhance their retail counters attended this demonstration to get more information on new fabrication methods of beef and pork subprimals.  Al Kober, Certified Angus Beef, discussed the newly-developed cuts of boneless ribeye, boneless top sirloin, and boneless strip loin while at the same time cutting samples of each.  Stephen Gerike, National Pork Board, also presented and cut samples of new enticing pork cuts such as petite tender, cap steak, pocket roast, and dinosaur leg.  In between these presentations, one of your fellow meat processors, David Dewey, Chico Locker & Sausage Co. Inc., Chico, CA, demonstrated the marination of his popular tri-tips.

 

 

Events for all ages were available throughout the convention.  For the 2009 Convention, a sausage linking competition was held.  Each child received one four (4) foot long link of pre-stuffed sausage.  The children took the 4-foot long link and hand linked it into smaller links.  After the links were made, they were cut apart so that child could pick their best 5 links of sausage.  The sausages were evaluated on presentation, size, length, shape, consistency, etc.

The future of the meat industry is your children and we look forward to testing their imagination next year at the 2010 American Convention of Meat Processors.

 

   

 

 

 

 

Cured Meats Hall of Fame Award

  

The 2009 inductees into the Cured Meats Hall of Fame was James Hankes, Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, Inc., Galesburg, IL and Michael Eickman, Eickman's Processing, Seward, IL.

  

  

                                            

Stephen F. Krut Scholarship Award

The 2009 recipent of the Stephen F. Krut Scholarship Award was Anthony Klinger, Coldwater, MI.

2009 Best Single Booth Award

 

The Best Single Booth Award went to De Luxe Packaging Corp., Saugerties, NY.  They specialize in high quality flexographic printing and offer a full range of wrapping and packaging products.

 

Golden Cleaver Award

The AAMP Golden Cleaver Trophy acknowledges the member who has recruited the highest number of new members to the join the American Association of Meat Processors.  The 2009 Golden Cleaver Award went to David Downs, Mar/Co Sales, Inc., Burnsville, MN for outstanding membership recruitment on behalf of AAMP.  David recruited eight (8) new members.

 

 

 

Convention attendees gathered at the Strategic Air & Space Museum to join AAMP as they wraped up the 70th American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition.  Attendees were able to tour the museum throughout the evening, as well as enjoy a great meal.

The Accompliment Award and the Achievement Award were presented, the Grand Prize winner was drawn, the new AAMP President was introduced, and the incoming and outgoing Board of Directors was recognized.