By Lacy Bates

Southwest Meat Association (SMA) is running for the roses during the 68th Annual Convention & Suppliers’ Showcase, July 24-27, 2024, at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, Texas. SMA’s Annual Convention is a unique educational opportunity for meat and poultry industry stakeholders at any level. The combination of excellent speakers and audience interaction will cover many issues affecting the industry each day. The conference also features a Suppliers’ Showcase and many other entertaining networking events throughout the four days.

Don’t forget, there is fun for the whole family! Kalahari Resort is unlike any other resort in central Texas. The resort features America’s largest indoor waterpark exceeding over 223,000 square feet of wild fun. Other amenities include Tom Foolery’s arcade, escape rooms, bowling, outdoor waterpark and lazy river.

Thursday, July 25

Kicking off the convention on Thursday, July 25, the SMA Foundation will host the Annual Bob Ondrusek Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by ABF Packing. The golf tournament is one of the many scholarship fundraisers hosted by the SMA Foundation. Thereafter on, Thursday evening, Cold Storage Construction is sponsoring a live music networking reception to mix and mingle with other colleagues in the industry.

Friday, July 26

• FSIS Small Plant Roundtable — Before you enjoy the amenities of the lazy river, SMA is proud to host USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service for a very small and small establishment roundtable. Various FSIS administrators and managers will be leading the Friday General Session, sponsored by StartKleen Legacy. SMA encourages all packers and processors within SMA membership and non-members to join a face-to-face session with FSIS. Bring your questions and hear directly from our industry’s rulemakers.
• “Best of the Wurst” Family Luncheon — The “Best of the Wurst" Family Luncheon, sponsored by Handtmann, features unique sausage varieties from ten SMA member companies. Each luncheon attendee will be able to cast their ballot to determine which company will walk away as the “Best of the Wurst” Champion. The mouth-watering sausage flavors from the past have included smoked chorizo, poblano with pepper jack, green chili and cheddar, smoked garlic, and many more.
• Suppliers’ Showcase — Afterwards, SMA hosts a three-hour tabletop exhibition for attendees to browse innovative suppliers and service providers in the meat industry. Goods and services from the 75 presenting companies will feature equipment, seasonings & spices, sanitation & chemicals, labeling services, ingredients, packaging suppliers, laboratory services, casings, financial services, and much more.
• “Kentucky Derby” Dinner & Auction — On Friday evening, SMA will host our annual dinner and auction, featuring a Kentucky Derby theme. Bring on the big hats and high fashion! Dinner is filled with family-friendly activities, great food, and a live and silent auction. The proceeds from the auctions continue to support the SMA Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Saturday, July 27

• General Session — Rise and shine on Saturday morning, attendees can expect more presentations from industry experts during the second general session, sponsored by Reiser. Emily Ellis, Manager of Communications and Content for Animal Agriculture Alliance will be discussing the current state of anti-animal agriculture activism and how to minimize their effects on the industry. Other speakers will speak on concerns surrounding labor and workplace issues, industry commodity outlook, and university updates. University updates will be given from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tarleton State, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M, West Texas A&M, and Angelo State Universities.
• Chairman’s Dinner and Dance — The last event of the convention is a special one. SMA and the SMA Foundation will proudly present the 2024 scholarships winners and induct three individuals into the SMA Hall of Honor during the Chairman’s Dinner and Dance, sponsored by Jim Henry Enterprises. In 2023, the SMA Foundation awarded over 50 students, at various levels in their collegiate journeys, with over $140,000 in scholarships. Since 2000 the SMA Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships.

Registration link

SMA welcomes members and non-members to attend the 68th Annual Convention. Registration and more information about the 68th Annual Convention & Suppliers’ Showcase is available here.

www.provisoneronline.com   |   JUNE 2024