Our Wilders team is back from the American Association of Meat Processors 2025 Convention in Kansas City, ready to get to work!

We made the decision to join AAMP this past year and attend their annual conference as a way to gain further information and education about the meat processing industry. While we work with great custom processing partners across the country to harvest and package our 100% fullblood Wagyu beef and Berkshire pork products, we are eager to stay informed about the ever-changing technologies and advancements in the custom processing space.

Pre-Conference Bus Tour

Jaclyn, Jake, and Danielle attended the AAMP pre-conference bus tour, where they visited local spots across the Kansas City area, including Kurzweils Meats, Paradise Locker Meats, KC Sausage Co., and The Local Pig for lunch! Thank you to the tour stops for your hospitality and willingness to share your success stories with us.

Convention Kickoff

Once the 86th American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition kicked off on Thursday, our team attended the welcoming session from outgoing AAMP President, Scott Filbrandt, and the very inspirational Dan Meers, KC Wolf (Mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs). Our team listened to the “Pricing for Profit in Direct-to-Consumer Sales” and “Clarity in Numbers: Unlocking the Path to Profitability” sessions, presented by Good Roots and Paradise Meats. Having a solid business and marketing plan when it comes to retailing your products is vital for success.

Convention Highlights

We hit the tradeshow floor where we visited over 350 exhibitors, showcasing everything from the latest and greatest processing equipment to packaging solutions. Jaclyn, Jake, and Danielle found a lot of inspiration in the exhibit hall and made some key connections with suppliers and consultants in the industry.

Some of our other favorite demos from the week included “123 Charcuterie-Me” and “The Best BBQ in the USA.” We enjoyed watching Chris Kurzweil of Kurzweil’s Meats and Mike Sloan of Hermann Wurst Haus create delicious sausages and cured meats for the perfect charcuterie presentation. Listening to Todd Johns of Plowboys BBQ and Scott Umscheid of Scott’s Kitchen BBQ talk about their success in the food service and BBQ competition spaces was very encouraging and exciting.

Rounding out the week, our team attended the American Cured Meat Championships product display and tasting time, where we sampled a variety of sausages, jerky, and other cured meat products. Experiencing the talent and flavors of cured meat professionals from around the country was unforgettable.

Looking Ahead

While Wilders is not currently in the custom processing or butcher shop space, we have found attending the 86th Annual AAMP Convention a tremendous learning and networking opportunity. As we continue to grow our 100% fullblood Wagyu beef label, understanding the meat industry with its challenges and advancing technologies will allow us to better adapt and serve our customers over time. Until next time, StayWILD!

AAMP Recap!