AAMP members filled the room for the welcoming session to officially begin the convention.  AAMP President, Jason Jennings, welcomed everyone to the 68th Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers 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 2007 F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award was Vista International Packaging LLC, Kenosha, WI.

  

Outstanding Service Award

The recipient of the 2007 Outstanding Service Award went to Ken & Kris Bisarek of Bloomington, WI.  They previously served as Executive Secretaris of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP) .  They both dedicated numerous hours to WAMP and meat industry.

   

  

The exhibit hall opened at 1:00 pm with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Jason Jennings while surrounded by members of the AAMP Board of Directors.

  

The exhibit hall was filled with 175 booths representing 118 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 welcoming reception was held at the Grain Exchange Room located about 5 blocks from the hotel.  AAMP members were treated to a buffet consisting of brats, potato salad, potato chips, pickles, and fruit.  The catering was provided by Glenn's Market & Catering Inc., Watertown, WI.  Some members of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors volunteered their time by helping attendees arrive at the event and serve food.

AAMP would like to thank the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors and the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors for their contributions to this event.

 

Although the 2007American 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 746 products were entered in 26 classes, including this year's regional class of Bratwurst – Cured, Smoked & Cooked .

  

A first timers reception was held to welcome members to their first AAMP convention.  This gives members an opportunity to ask questions and talk directly to the AAMP President, Executive Director, AAMP board members, as well as previous AAMP board members.

Kid's Sausage Decorating Competition

Events for all ages were available throughout the convention.  An interactive kid's cookie decorating competition was held on Friday morning in the exhibit hall.  The kids were supplied with sausage chubs, toothpicks, fruits, and vegetables to create a Mr. or Mrs. Sausage-Head.

The future of the meat industry is your children and we look forward to testing their imagination next year at the 2008 American Convention of Meat Processors.

  

 

 

 

Klement's Famous Racing Sausages

The Bratwurst, Polish Sausage, Hotdog, and Chorizo joined AAMP in the exhibit hall Friday morning.  The sausages race after the bottom of the sixth inning at every Milwaukee Brewers home game.

  

   Cured Meats Hall of Fame Award

  

The 2007 inductees to the Cured Meats Hall of Fame was Greg Endres, Greg's Meat Processing, Hampton, MN and Daniel Weber, Weber's Meats of Geneseo, Geneseo, IL.   To read their citations, click here. 

  

  

           

 

  

  AAMP Achievement Award

The recipient of the 2007Achievement Award was Stephen Krut, Marietta, Pennsylvania.  To read the citation that was given, click here.

   Tricks of the Trade

 

Tricks of the Trade was created to acknowledge a member with an idea that was implemented in their business to improve the operation.  Gary Crane served as the moderator of the contest.  The winner was Jon Frohling, Frohling Meats Inc. located in Hecla, South Dakota. 

All of the Tricks of the Trade entries can be viewed in the Members Only section of AAMP's Website.

   

 Next AAMP President

 

Jason Jennings introduced David Sutton as the next AAMP president as he presented David with his red blazer and president's pin.  David operates Newhall Locker in Newhall, Iowa, and will serve as the AAMP president until next year's convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.

     

The President's Plaque

David Sutton presented Jason Jennings with a plaque and thanked him for his year of service as AAMP president.  Jason will remain on the Executive Board as immediate past president for the next year.

 

 

 

Grand Prize Winner

 

Ed Woods of Woods Smoked Meats, Inc. located in Bowling Green, Missouri was the grand prize winner.  He won a trip for 2 persons to the 2008 American Convention of Meat Processors in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The trip includes air travel from a U.S. Gateway departure city, five days' and four nights' accommodations provided compliments of the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, complimentary convention registration and 2 complimentary tickets to the Welcome Reception and Saturday evening function.

   

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