The American Association of Meat Processors is hosting the 86^th edition of its American Convention of Meat Processors and Suppliers’ Exhibition, July 24-26, in Kansas City, Mo. This annual event serves as a key gathering for professionals in the meat and poultry industries. At the 2025 event, attendees can attend in-depth educational sessions and live demonstrations specifically tailored to the needs of the meat processing industry.

AAMP focuses its educational sessions by evaluating current member needs. Two highlights from educational sessions this year include succession planning, an always in-demand topic, as well as more focus on mental health and wellness in the industry. "We have been talking with our members about how we can help improve mental wellness," said Sam Gazdziak. "You can have a great business, but what's the point of it if you are working too hard to really enjoy the fruits of your labor? So we have a session with that from one of our members, Nichole from Southpaw Packing."

One special demo for this year's convention will be focusing in on barbecue. “If you want to learn how to create some great mouthwatering specialties, working on your brisket and working on your ribs, that’s a great demo and something you won’t want to miss," said Sam Gazdziak, AAMP communications coordinator.

The annual AAMP Convention prides itself on deep communication and networking opportunities, offering one central location for industry professionals to meet, connect and learn from one another. “At our shows, contact and conversations are some of the greatest tools that you can have,” Gazdziak said. "This is a show and a professional convention, but it's also in a lot of ways a gathering of friends and family reunion."

On the sold-out show floor, a wide array of exhibitors will be showcasing their latest innovations for the meat processing sector, including products, services and new technologies.

For the first time, the expo’s iconic American Cured Meat Championships will offer a fresh category. “We have seen a lot of our state affiliates having a lot of success with getting fresh categories into their meat competitions. So we’re trying that with a fresh, gourmet flavored patty class," Gazdziak said. "We’re really looking forward to seeing what creativity our members will come up with. When it comes to the cured meat product we have, they always provide outstanding jerky and meat sticks and sausages and hams, and we’re excited to let them loose with fresh patties and see what they can do.” The ACMC will experiment will this new Experimental Fresh Class: Fresh Gourmet/Flavored Patty for a year or two to gauge member interest.

The ACMC will see awards presented in 29 classes from 7:30-10 a.m. July 25, including the 2025 Featured Class of Smoked and Cooked Poultry Sausage.

From 5-7 p.m. on July 25, the Meat Industry Hall of Fame will be inducting the Class of 2024. All AAMP Convention attendees are invited to attend this induction and reception ceremony, celebrating the industry's highest honor.

More information about AAMP's American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition is available here.

2025 AAMP Convention schedule

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

For 2025, AAMP will have two different preshow events for attendees to pick from. Each event is $50 per person and must preregister. Transportation and lunch are provided with each event. Charter buses will leave promptly from the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Space is limited for each event.

Bus Tour- 8 AM - 4 p.m.
 AAMP will tour four unique businesses in the Kansas City area. Stops include Kurzweils Meats, Paradise Locker Meats, The Local Pig and KC Sausage Co.

Spouse Tour - 9 AM - 3:30 p.m.
 Those not going on the plant bus tour can boost their morning with fresh pastries and coffee at a local Roasterie. Attendees will go on a factory tour and receive a 15-minute class on how to brew the best coffee.

Attendees will then travel by bus to the Overland Park area of KC. Lunch at Grimaldi's Pizzeria and Pasta is on the menu from 11:30-1:00 p.m. The group will spend the rest of the afternoon working off the caffeine buzz and calories by shopping, then at 2:00 p.m. attendees enter “BRK Through.” It is an entertainment experience at over 22,000 square feet, featuring 40 unique and immersive high-tech challenge rooms. In these rooms, there will be mental, physical and skill-based challenges.

The adventurous day will conclude back at the hotel at 4 p.m. Attendees can purchase tickets to the bus tours when registering for the convention.

6:00 PM – 8:00 p.m., President’s Welcome Reception/Swag Swap
Location: Kansas City Marriott Downtown
 AAMP President Scott Filbrandt will be hosting a reception for all convention attendees with light refreshments provided. All attendees are welcome.

AAMP will be hosting a president's reception July 23 in the Basie Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, and will have a swag swap table for anyone interested in participating. Attendees can bring five of their company's T-shirts to the reception, then pick up five T-shirts from other companies while leaving the reception. The first swag swap was last year, and AAMP heard from many processors who wish they had they had brought shirts so they could participate.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

(All sessions to be held at the Kansas City Convention Center)

8:00 AM – 9:30 a.m., Welcoming Session
Keynote Speaker: Dan Meers-KC Wolf (Mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs)
 This session will feature an overview of the coming week. Opening remarks will be made by AAMP President Scott Filbrandt with the presentation of the F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award and the Stephen F. Krut Scholarship Award. After the awards presentation, hear from keynote speaker Dan Meers, who has an inspiring story to share on his journey as the mascot for the multi-Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs.

9:30 AM – 10:30 a.m., ACMC Registration
 
9:30 AM – 10:30 a.m., Session: New Member Welcome Session
Speakers: Chris Young, American Association of Meat Processors, Scott Filbrandt, American Association of Meat Processors President/Bob’s Processing
 Chris Young and Scott Filbrandt talk all things AAMP, discuss what attendees need to know to make the most of the convention.
 
10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m., Session: Legal Updates, Q&A
Speaker: Rick Alaniz
 Longtime advocate for the industry, Rick Alaniz will discuss recent legal updates and be available for questions.
 
10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m.Session: Wellness, Resiliency, and Mental Health for Meat Processors
Speaker: Nichole Sargent, Southpaw Packing
 This presentation will provide actionable insights into mental health and wellness strategies tailored for the meat processing industry. Attendees will gain new knowledge, engage in discussions and receive practical tools to build a culture of well-being in their workplaces. Businesses can experience increased productivity, engagement, job satisfaction and employee morale by prioritizing mental health. This session aims to empower meat processors with the knowledge and resources to prioritize wellness and build resilient, productive teams.

10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m., Pricing for Profit in Direct-to-Consumer Sales
Speaker: Good Roots
 This presentation will delve into pricing strategies to help ranchers and meat processors succeed in the direct-to-consumer market. Good Roots will explore how to best build consumer trust, balance inventory and manage gross margins to achieve sustained profitability. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to make their marketing resonate and deliver value.
 
10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m., Session: Succession Planning
Speaker: Steven Burger, Burger’s Smokehouse
 Founder E.M. Burger started selling country hams in 1927 to supplement the family’s modest farm income. What began as a small side venture has since evolved into a business spanning four generations. This session will explore strategies for successfully transferring management and ownership to the next generation in multigenerational family enterprises.
 
10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m., Session: Cybersecurity
 Speaker: Jake Sailer, Sailer’s Meats, Robert Austin, Tech Express IT
 Cybersecurity and threat detection have become a top priority for all. With ransomware and phishing at an all-time high, businesses are at risk every minute of every day. In this session, a processor shares how his business was attacked. A consultant in the tech industry shares how to best protect a business from cyber threats.
11:45 AM – 12:45 p.m., Session: Legal Updates, Q & A
Speaker: Rick Alaniz
 
11:45 AM – 12:45 p.m., Session: Smoked Fish 101
Speakers: Scott Filbrandt
It’s entirely possible to prepare smoked fish without a traditional smokehouse. In this session, Scott Filbrandt guides attendees through the smoked fish preparation process using the award-winning 2004 ACMC Grand Champion recipe and a proven smokehouse schedule.

11:45 AM – 12:45 p.m., Session: Clarity in Numbers: Unlocking the Path to Profitability
Speakers: Good Roots and Paradise Locker Meats
 This session features a detailed financial review with Paradise Locker Meats, analyzing cash flow, labor ratios and budget performance. Through real-world numbers, speakers will highlight the relationship between wholesale and retail operations, gross profit margins and inventory management. Attendees can learn how financial clarity can evolve into actionable strategies that drive profitability.
 
11:45 AM – 12:45 p.m., Session: Upcoming Industry Changes
 Speaker: AAMP staff and Bill Pointer, Design Mechanical
 This session will go over upcoming industry changes and things processors need to know that will impact their operations.
 
11:45 AM – 12:45 p.m., Session: Sanitation and Food Safety
Speakers: We R Food Safety
 Sanitation is the foundational base of food safety. In this session, We R Food Safety will discuss what chemicals work best for controlling the different types of pathogens. The company is also going to discuss harborage points and how to address them as well as holding teams accountable for maintaining sanitation. A panel of processors will provide real-life examples of what to do and how to do it.
 
1:00 PM – 4:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall Open
 Location: Kansas City Convention Center
 
6:00 PM – 9:00 p.m., Thursday Night Event – Chicken N Pickle, North Kansas City
 This year's event will be at Chicken N Pickle North Kansas City. AAMP members of all ages can come to this event, hosted at a wood-clad, chicken-centric joint with a patio, rooftop bar & pickleball courts.

Friday, July 25, 2025

(All sessions to be held at the Kansas City Convention Center)
 
8:00 AM – 9:30 a.m., Demo: 123 Charcuterie-Me
 Presenters: Chris Kurzweil, Kurzweil’s Meats, and Mike Sloan, Hermann Wurst Haus
 A workshop experiencing all aspects of charcuterie from flavor profiles and curing whole muscle products and ground and formed summer sausage and salami. This workshop will go through mixing, stuffing and hanging products as well as the differences in processes between using citric acid and starter cultures. And last but not least, speakers will teach attendees how to build a grazing table or board utilizing different items for varied tastes and textures including meats, cheeses, dips, crackers, dried fruits and various other components.
 
9:30 AM – 12:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall Open
 Location: Kansas City Convention Center
 
12:45 PM – 2:00 p.m., Demo: The Best BBQ in the USA
 Kansas City is known for its barbecue. In this session, several area barbecue masters share their tips and tricks.
 
2:15 PM – 3:15 p.m., Session: Optimizing Efficiency with Equipment
Presenters: Jon Frohling, ScottPec
 Having the right equipment will save time and money for a business. In this session, Jon Frohling presents a comprehensive look at purchasing equipment to optimize efficiency and increase production and profits. Attendees will learn key points including return on investment of each piece of equipment, the right time to purchase new equipment, equipment purchase impact on a bottom line. Attendees will hear examples of how equipment purchases can increase profits and efficiency.

2:15 PM – 3:15 p.m., Session: EOS 2.0
Presenters: Michele Mollard, EOS Implementor
 The top frustration these days in businesses is people. In this hands-on workshop, attendees will get clarity in the roles of their staff, and understand if their employees truly get the job, want the job and have the capacity to do the job. Additionally, attendees will learn how staff will buy-in to processes and follow them. The speaker will explain how to build a culture where accountability runs rampant throughout the staff.

5:00PM – 7:00 p.m., Meat Industry Hall of Fame Induction and Reception
Location: Kansas City Convention Center
 All are invited to attend this free event, honoring the Meat Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2024. At the ceremony, The National Provisioner will honor the Class of 2024 inductees whose vision, skills and dedication have shaped the future of the meat and poultry industry.

Saturday, July 26

(All sessions to be held at the Kansas City Convention Center)
 
7:30 AM – 10:00 a.m., ACMC Awards
 Grand Champion, Reserved Grand Champion, Champion and Reserve Champion plaques will be awarded in 29 classes, including the 2025 Featured Class of Poultry Sausage. Who will be awarded the coveted Clarence Knebel Best of Show award and who will earn the Cured Meat Excellence Award for having competed the best throughout the competition? Candidates selected for induction into the Cured Meats Hall of Fame will also take place during this session.
 
Business Meeting
 At the  annual AAMP Business Meeting, attendees will hear a few words from AAMP’s leadership, discuss elections to AAMP’s Board of Directors, and most importantly, learn about a critical report on the state of the small plant operator in the meat and poultry industry. Awards will be presented at this session for the Best Single Booth Award, Best Multiple Booth Award and the Golden Cleaver Awards.
 
10:00 AM – 11:00 a.m., ACMC Product Viewing
 
10:30 AM – 1:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall Open
Location: Kansas City Convention Center
 
11:00 AM – 11:30 a.m., ACMC Scorecard & Product Pickup
 
1:45 PM – 2:45 p.m., Bull Session – Which Session “meats” your need?
Pick one:
Custom Processing
Retail Space
Co-Packing
 Board members will lead these sessions, answering attendee questions about the meat processing world.
 
5:00 PM – 6:00 p.m., Cocktail Reception
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
 
6:00 PM – 9:00 p.m., Banquet
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
 The American Convention of Meat Processor’s Closing Banquet will be held in Kansas City Marriott Downtown Ballroom and will conclude the annual convention. The Achievement and Accomplishment Awards will be presented, and the Grand Prize winner will be drawn. The Grand Prize is a trip for two to the 2026 American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers’ Exhibition in Milwaukee, Wisc. The grand prize includes economy airfare from any major gateway city in the US; four nights’ accommodations, compliments of the Hilton Milwaukee; complimentary convention registration for two; and two tickets to the Thursday Night Event and Saturday Night Banquet.