Processed Meats Contest

 Sponsored by: Lopez Dorada

📅 Event Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
📍 Location: Civic Center, Amarillo TX
🕒 Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Cost: $25 per student and professional competitor.  You will register for this contest when registering for the 2026 RMC registration.  If you love a little competition and want to learn more about the field of processed meats, register TODAY for the contest.  

  • AMSA Staff Lead: Leslie Frenzel, Director of Youth Programs
  • Contest Committee Chair: Noah Hall

Contest Instructions and Participant Guidelines

Contest Format:

Contests will begin at the following times on June 21, 2026.  Contestants will have approximately 1hr. to complete the contest and submit drop sheet and the electronic scantron.

Contest Rotations

Contest Schedule
0:00-0:10 minIntroduction of the Processed Meats Chair and CommitteeNoah Hall
0:11-0:30 minContest InstructionsNoah Hall
0:31-0:90 min Contest- All contestants must complete the contest in 1hr.- Self-Guided 
0:91-1:20 minCommittee provides Industry OverviewContest Committee
Contest Overview- Committee will go over the officials and the logic of the classes

Contest participants should complete their contest individually.  The American Meat Science Association expects all students to compete with the highest level of integrity and honesty.  All cell phones, smartwatches, etc. should be put away except for the device they are using to complete the contest. The only content on the screen should be the electronic scantron.   If you have any questions concerning rules or expectations, please contact me directly via email (lfrenzel@meatscience.org).

Contests will be hosted by the 2026 Processed Meats Educational and Competitive Programming Committee.  Once the contest begins, students can choose the order that classes are completed and must complete all classes and questions within an hour.  Students should optimize their hour to best suit their needs during competition.  Time will be kept by the contest participant and should not exceed one hour for the entire contest.

RMC Processed Meats Class List:

  1. Class #1- Boneless Hams w/Scenario
  2. Class #2- Smoked Pork Chops w/Scenario
  3. Class #3- Beef Jerky w/Scenario (tasting component)
  4. Class #4- Snack Sticks w/Scenario (tasting component)
  5. Class #5- Smoked Sausage w/Scenario
  6. Class #6- Slab Bacon w/Scenario
  7. Processed Meats Keep/Cull #1-8- Sliced Bacon w/Scenario
  8. Processed Meats Defects #1-10

Questions

Contest participants will answer questions immediately after completing their placings on the classes. Notes will be allowed to be used for the contest.

Scoring

All contest participants will compete for individual awards.  Results and Awards- Results will be announced during the 2026 RMC!

  • Contest Scoring:  
    • 6 Questions Classes = 300 pts 
    • 30 Questions = 300 pts 
    • Processed Meat Defects/Specs = 100pts 
    • Keep/Cull = 50 pts 
  • 750 Points Total 

     

Online Learning Modules