2025 Convention
2025 NWMPA Convention
When: March 27th – 29th, 2025
Where: The Yakima Convention Center in Yakima, WA.
More info will be coming soon!
Convention Registration
Hotel room blocks are now available for registration
We have room blocks available at the Red Lion Hotel which is the closest to the convention center. When you reach out, make sure they know you are with the NWMPA to get the special rate. Please contact them at the following:
Red Lion Hotel
607 E Yakima Ave,
Yakima, WA
(509) 248-5900
Room Rates:
King – $139 (Continental breakfast included)
Double Queen – $139 (Continental breakfast included)
Cured Meats Championships
Click the button below for info and rules
Convention Schedule
Thursday, March 27th
Workshop Schedule – All Classes are Held in the Banquet Hall
8:00am – Stephan Neumann – Fresh Sausage Master Class
12:00pm – Break for Lunch (Not Provided)
1:00pm – Kevin Trosclair – Virtual Tour of Mountain View Custom Meats
2:15pm – Break
2:30pm – Dr Jonathan Campbell – Optimizing Smoke Cycle and Trouble Shooting Product Defects
3:45pm – Break
4:00pm – Rebecca Thistlethwaite and David Zarling (NMPAN) – Creating Predictable Profit in and Unpredictable World: How to set fees and prices so that you make money.
5:15pm – Pre-Convention Workshops Conclude for the day
6:00pm – Presidents Reception Dinner/Swag Swap – Yakima Steak Company (Reservations required and must be made through the NWMPA office.)
Friday, March 28th
7:30am – Tours of local shops and locations begin. Tours are coordinated by the NWMPA office. Please check your personal registration to see when your tour leaves and from where.
Tour 1 – Washington Beef and Yakima Label
Tour 2 – Yakima Label and Apple King
Tour 3 – Snyders German Sausage and Alvords Custom Meats
Tour 4 – Yakima Label and Monson Fruit
Tour 5 – Cutting Demonstration in South Ballroom at Yakima CC by Dr Phil Bass.
All tours should conclude in time to return to the YCC by 11:30am
12:00pm – Lunch is served
12:45pm – Chris Young, Executive Director of AAMP – What AAMP is doing throughout the country
1:00pm – Tracy Smaciarz – Apprenticeship Director – Update on Apprenticeship
1:20pm – James Nasados – Update on University of Idaho
1:40pm – Rebecca Thistlethwaite – Update on NMPAN
2:00pm – Jim Cheney, Hill Meat Company – Employee Retention and Creating a Workable Workplace
3:00pm – Vendor Show Opens
6:00pm – Vendor Show Closes
6:15pm – Dinner is served –
6:30pm – The following activities will all occur until the end of the night
• Silent Auction
• Knife Sharpening Contest
• Cornhole Tournament
7:00pm – Dueling Pianos Show – Banquet Hall
9:00pm – Convention Center Closed for Evening
Saturday, March 29th
7:00am – Convention Hall Opens
8:00am – First set of classes opens. These will happen at the same time:
Oregon Room – Conference Center Room 1
• Oregon Dept of Ag
• Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
Washington Room – Conference Center Room 2
• WSDA
• Washington Cattlemen’s Association
• State Senator Curtis King
Idaho Room – Conference Center Room 3
• Idaho Cattle Association Representative
• Session on issues facing Idaho processors led by Don Scarrow
9:30am – Second Session of classes opens. These will happen at the same time:
Conference Center Room 1
• Chris Young – Executive Director of AAMP
Conference Center Room 2
• How to Plan for Business Succession. Planning Your Business Today for the Best Tax Benefits and Eventually for Sale – Ellen S Jackson and Charissa Johnston, Attorneys at Stokes Lawrence Velikanje Moore and Associates
Conference Center Room 3
Bull Session – Led by Jake Hines, Hines Meats
11:00am – Business Meeting – Main Stage
Discussing the following topics
Approving financial statement
Voting on new board members (3 processor and 1 supplier)
12:00pm – Vendor Show Opens
12:15pm – Lunch is served
3:00pm – Vendor Show Closes
3:00pm – 5:00pm – Free Time
5:00pm – Social Hour – Sponsored by Reiser
6:00pm – Dinner is served
6:45pm – Awards show begins – Sponsored by Handtmann
8:45pm – Awards show closes
9:00pm – Closing of Convention by Jake Hines, President
Social Hour Sponsor:
Cured Meats Sponsor:
Convention Sponsor:
Platinum Sponsor:
