The American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) will hold its annual convention in Des Moines, Iowa, this summer.

Processors, packers, retailers, wholesalers, HRI operators, caterers, deli operators, home foodservice dealers and catalog marketers, as well as both members and non-members of AAMP, are encouraged to attend the event from July 14-16 at the Iowa Events Center.

Attendees can kick off the show experience on July 13 with a bus tour around the Des Moines area.

That evening, AAMP President Dwight Ely and First Lady Susan will host the President’s Reception at Iowa’s Hall of Pride from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All convention attendess are welcome.

The first full day of the convention, Thursday, July 14, will start with an overview of the week ahead. The Welcoming Session at 8 a.m. will feature a presentation of the first awards including the Stephen F. Krut Scholarship Award and the F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year award.

The keynote speaker is scheduled to be Gordon Davis, PhD, founder of iCEV, an online education and certification platform. From training meat judging teams to leading research projects, to producing educational resources for meat science, Davis always pursues and expects excellence. A passionate competitor, educator, risk taker, businessman, philanthropist, mentor and friend, Davis is most known for the motto, “It’s all about the kids,” whether they are those he taught personally or one of the millions of students impacted by a CEV production.

Later that day, the American Cured Meat Championships (ACMC) will be staged. Co-technical advisors include Joseph C. Cordray, PhD, from Iowa State University, Terry Houser, PhD, from Iowa State University and Jeffrey Sindelar, PhD, from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The ACMC awards will name a Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion, Champion and Reserve Champion on Saturday, July 16.

Educational sessions are open to all attendees throughout the convention. Some of the sessions include:

  • Building the Perfect Processed Meat Flavor with Bruce Armstrong, LifeSpice
  • Legal Issues with Richard Alaniz, Alaniz Law & Associates, Houston, Texas
  • Salmonella & Carcass Intervention with Steve Larson, Arm & Hammer Animal Food Production
  • A Better Understanding of Return on Investment (ROI) with Jon Froling Scott Pec & Tony Crowe ISU/CIRAS

The exhibit hall will open with a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 14. The exhibit floor will be open each day – July 14-16 – for 3 to 3 ½ hours.

Various networking opportunities will also be part of the annual convention. Don’t miss the night event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 at Jack Trice Stadium at Iowa State University. Charter buses will depart from the Hilton at 5:30 p.m. but will not offer continuous service. There is plenty of space to park at the stadium if you wish to drive. While at the stadium, enjoy supper with your AAMP friends and take the opportunity to stroll around the Reinman Gardens.

On Friday, a virtual plant tour will be available for interested parties. The presenters include Ely Farm Products, Edgewood Locker and Schmidts’ Meat Market. People will be able to see the operations in Pennsylvania, Iowa and Minnesota.

Saturday, July 16, begins early with the ACMC Awards, including the Clarence Knebel Best of Show and the Cured Meat Excellence Award. During this time, AAMP will induct the newest member(s) into the Cured Meats Hall of Fame.

During the Closing Social, AAMP’s annual awards will be presented, and a drawing will be held for a trip for two to the 2023 American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers’ Exhibition in Charleston, SC. The prize will include airfare, accommodations, convention registration and tickets to the social events during the 2023 show.

For more information on the convention, go to www.aamp.com.