title Monday, September 6, 2010
2009 American Cured Meats Awards

American Cured Meats Awards Recipients

Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats

  • Grand Champion Heavyweight Bacon
  • Grand Champion Lightweight Bacon
  • Grand Champion Boneless Ham
  • Champion Smoked Turkey

Weber’s Meats of Geneseo

  • Grand Champion Semi-Dried Sausage
  • Champion Specialty Game Meats
  • Res. Champion Smoked Turkey
  • Res. Champion Summer Sausage

Leiding’s Processing & Catering

  • Grand Champion Specialty Game Meats
  • Res. Grand Champion Smoked Turkey
  • Res. Grand Champion Summer Sausage

Eickman’s Processing

  • Res. Champion Dried Beef
  • Res. Champion Bone-in Ham (Lightwt)


Cured Meat Hall of Fame

IAMP was proud to nominate both James Hankes and Michael Eickman for the AAMP Cured Meat Hall of Fame.

Both Michael and James were inducted into the Cured Meat Hall of Fame at the 2009 AAMP Convention in Omaha, NE. They were recognized for their cured meat production, product show awards and their dedication to the meat industry.

James Hankes

James Hankes

Jim grew up on a traditional family farm in northern Illinois with 3 brothers and 4 sisters. His interest in butchering began while watching the butcher from a local locker plant. Jim participated in meat judging at the 4H and FFA levels and earned trips to compete at the state level at the University of Illinois. From these experiences, he enrolled at the University of Illinois in animal science.

In 1971, while working in the meat science lab, Jim met small processors from across the country during extension programs. He was on the college meat and livestock judging team and, after graduation, was hired to manage the meat science lab where he coordinated slaughter, processing, sausage making, and teaching projects. While working on his master’s degree, Jim designed a meat processing facility. After completing his master’s degree, Jim and wife Kae moved to Galesburg where he supervised and helped build Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, Inc., opening in1978. He started with a single truck smokehouse and when the demand for his smoked hams, turkeys, dried beef and sausages increased, a second smokehouse was added. With 2 of his 3 sons returning to the business, Thrushwood Farms expanded and developed more high quality meat products. Jim has won nearly 150 awards on the state and national levels.

On behalf of AAMP, Jim was instrumental in establishing the nutrition labeling small business exemption. If asked, Jim will tell you to be involved in your industry to remain informed and competitive. Jim has dedicated 3 decades of service to the small meat processing industry in education and information.

Michael Eickman

James Hankes

Michael’s interest in the meat industry began in his father’s processing plant. It was there that he learned everything there was to know, from butchering to curing.

Michael graduated from high school and attended Rock Valley Junior College. He married and joined the Air Force Reserve; however, his interest was pursuing a career in the meat industry. It was rewarding to see that people appreciated the fine fresh and cured meat products at Eickman’s Processing Company.

With encouragement and expertise, Michael was prodded to produce a good Country Ham. At the time, it was unheard of for a plant from the north to enter a country ham class, let alone win! To this day, Eickman’s Processing continues to produce country hams and bacons, and Michael has won over 100 state and national awards.

Michael attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for Better Process Control and is certified in food canning. Eickman’s Processing currently cans 15,000 jars of chicken, pork, beef, venison, and mincemeat, as well as, other private labeled food items. He has served as a Meat Product Show Judge at many state shows and in 2000 was honored by the University of Illinois Meat Science Department with the Sleeter Bull Award for his contributions to the meat industry. He is a past Master of the Masonic Lodge, participant in the degree works of the Consistory and a member of the Shrine for helping disabled children. His interest in cured meat products continues today as he works with custom producers on natural curing that excludes nitrites. Eickman’s Processing produces several batches of nonitrite products each week.




Outstanding Service Award

Merlyn Eickman

The Illinois Association of Meat Processors (IAMP) proudly nominated Merlyn Eickman for the 2009 AAMP Outstanding Service. Merlyn's dedication, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness contributes to IAMP being a strong and viable association today.

Merlyn has been involved in the meat industry since he was old enough to take the train from Seward, Illinois to Rockford, Illinois to work in a packing house. He later purchased the Pecatonica Locker and moved it to Seward, Illinois where the plant, Eickman's Processing Co., still remains a thriving meat processing plant at the present time.

In 1966 he was elected the President of IAMP after serving on the Board of Directors. He then was elected to the post as the 1979-80 AAMP President after serving on their Board of Directors also. Merlyn was commended for his work in the meats industry by being inducted into the Cured Meat Hall of Fame in 1993.

However, that was only the beginning of his work and contributions for IAMP. In 1997 Merlyn began the role as Treasurer of IAMP when the former Treasurer passed away. Jeri Nieman, former IAMP Executive Secretary, remembers their trip to Southern Illinois to pick up all the forms, papers and documents. Then they began the process to sort the materials, open new accounts and start the Treasurer records over again for IAMP. When IAMP fell upon rough times financially, Merlyn was the one who 'passed the hat' to make sure the bills were paid and that IAMP would be able to build to a strong organization one day. Still today, it is not uncommon to discuss the days of 'passing the hat' as a reminder to make good, sound financial business decisions regarding IAMP's financial position.

Not only does Merlyn serve as our Treasurer, but he is a source of sound advice for new board members and even new staff members. He attends all board meetings and IAMP activities. Merlyn continues to serve as a Product Show Judge at the IAMP convention, as well as, the WAMP, AAMP and MAMP conventions whenever possible. Merlyn was also very helpful to make sure the Executive Secretary transition in 2004-05 went well for IAMP. Furthermore, he is always there to assist whenever needed especially at the registration desk each year during convention.

Currently, Merlyn still attends many state conventions as well as the AAMP convention yearly. In addition, he 'comes into work' in the afternoons at the family-owned meat plant as needed. However, Merlyn not only contributes to IAMP, he serves on the Illinois Board of Livestock Commissioners (appointed), President of the Pecatonica Fire Board of Trustees, Charter Member of the Pecatonica Rotary and President of the 12 Mile Grove Cemetery Association. He is a father of three children and a stepfather of twelve children.

Merlyn has passed his knowledge of the meat industry onto his son, grandson and anyone else who would care to listen and learn!! Additionally, he has also passed his keen business sense and sound decision making onto generations of IAMP board members.

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