Next week, I’m getting on a plane and traveling to one of my favorite cities: Kansas City, Mo. I’ve liked it for years, ever since I went to college 30 minutes away to the west (Rock Chalk, by the way). I’ve loved the museums that are in the town, and I loved going to Royals games, sitting in the bleachers and heckling the visiting outfielders. The BBQ, of course, goes without saying.

Along with all the good things that Kansas City has to offer, it also is home to the 2018 AAMP Convention, taking place July 19-21 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at the Crown Center. I know many of you make this convention a regular part of your summer schedule, so you don’t need me to tell you how useful it is. That said, if you’ve never attended or don’t attend regularly, there’s still a week to get your plans together. In terms of education and networking, it’s an important resource for small and mid-sized processors, and the trade show contains a wealth of equipment, supplies and services that can help your business.

We’ve featured a good deal of information about the AAMP Show to date. Here are some handy links for everything you need to know about the show before you arrive.

If you’ll be at the show, and want to say hi, please look for my at the BNP Media booth (#F1). Or, send an email to gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com, and we can try to set up a time to meet.

79^th AAMP Convention overview: A primer for everything that’s taking place in Kansas City next week.

American Cured Meats Championships: Everything you need to know about the largest national cured meats competition in the country.

Area Attractions in Kansas City: Things to do in your down time. I particularly recommend the Negro Leagues Museum if you’re a baseball fan or a fan of American history.

June 2018 Digital Edition of IP: Find an in-depth schedule of the AAMP Show here, as well as booth previews of several AAMP Show exhibitors.