Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Nolechek, Lynn, Benzschawel, Hanson, Meckley
----Source: Thorp Courier, (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 4/06/2014
Nolechek Meats (Grand Champion Title – 3-6 April 2014)
The award winning team from Nolechek’s Meats are back row (l-r) Bill Nolechek, Meg Lynn, Chad Nolechek and Kelly Nolechek, front row (l-r) Marie Benzschawel, Barb Hanson and Jennifer Meckley.
The exceptional quality of meat products produced by Nolechek’s Meats of Thorp was recognized at the 75th annual convention of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors, held in Madison, April 3-6. At the Meat Product Show, held in conjunction with that meeting, Nolechek’s Meats received the following product awards:
Grand Champion in the Smoked, Cooked, & Cured Specialty Bratwurst category with their smoked cheesewurst; Reserve Grand Champion in the Luncheon or Jellied Loaf category with their pork & chicken loaf; Champion in the Skinless Frankfurter/Wieners category with their all beef skinless wieners; and Reserve Champion in the Fresh Breakfast Sausage Links category with their pork & beef fresh breakfast links.
The Wisconsin Meat product Competition is the largest of its kind in the United States. Meat processing plants and meat markets from throughout the state this year entered 1,084 individual products into 36 product categories, including summer sausage, bratwurst, ham, bacon, smoked poultry, and a variety of other types of meat products.
Over 40 judges, including food scientists, out-of-state meat processors, and other food industry professionals were required to effectively evaluate the many products during the product evaluation session on Saturday, April 5. Individual products are scored for external appearance and eye appeal, internal appearance, aroma, and taste, using a scale of 1,000 points.
The size of the product show and the quality of its entries demonstrates the important role that sausage and processed meats play in Wisconsin’s meat industry and among consumers across the state.
Nolechek Meats Kelly Nolechek not only was on the receiving end of many awards throughout the convention – he was also elected as the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors President. Kelly will serve as President for a two-year term.
