MEAT People

meatpeople
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

MEAT People is the official podcast of SMA (Southwest Meat Association)— a twice-monthly audio and video series designed to connect, celebrate, and inform SMA members and industry stakeholders. Hosted primarily by SMA Member, Neil Dudley with Pederson’s Farms, with rotating co-hosts and guests. MEAT People will showcase stories from across the meat processing and packing industry, highlight SMA’s resources and events, provide updates, and foster networking within this unique and collaborative industry community. The tone will be welcoming, conversational, and informative — like catching up with family at a reunion (except with more brisket).

  1. 3d ago

    Jason Beyer and D.L. Funderburgh on Building a Plant, Surviving Cycles, and Why SMA Matters

    Neil interviews ABF Packings founders Jason Beyer and D.L. Funderburgh about how the Southwest Meat Association (SMA) helped them start ABF in the mid-1990s, learn processing, find markets, and later survive major setbacks like a plant fire by relying on members to keep products flowing during rebuilding. They describe starting with baby calves, expanding into heavier cattle, building their Dublin facility themselves without formal plans, and lessons learned (especially plumbing/drains) along with the critical importance of water supply (about 260 gallons per cow). They discuss HACCP’s impact and how SMA support and member expertise helped them implement programs and meet evolving “approved supplier” requirements. They address today’s high beef prices as cyclical with tight margins, emphasizing persistence, yield measurement down to thousandths of a percent, continuous improvement, and building a strong team. They highlight SMA’s scholarship auction raising about $150-160k, their “give back” mindset, and ABF’s related kettle-cook business producing soups, sauces, and queso for foodservice.   Visit us at https://southwestmeat.org/   Topics 01:02 Why SMA Matters 01:37 ABF Origins and Mentors 04:15 Building the Dublin Plant 06:19 From Calves to Cows 07:57 Water and Plant Basics 10:06 SMA Support and HACCP 12:16 High Beef Market Cycles 16:32 Scholarships and Giving Back 18:49 Sales and Customer Growth 23:03 Yield and Measurement Culture 27:19 Delegation and Programs 29:49 Family Sacrifices and Diversifying 35:46 Leadership and Trusting Teams 37:49 Final Thoughts and SMA Call

  2. Sep 21

    Meat Industry News: FSIS Fee Relief;  USDA’s $50M Program; Farm Bill & Mexico Cattle Updates

    Brittany Moore and Lacey Bates introduce episode 2 of Meat Industry News, a biweekly 10–15 minute segment of the Meat People podcast, and cover four key updates. FSIS extended temporary overtime and holiday inspection fee reductions for eligible small (30%) and very small (75%) federally inspected meat, poultry, and egg product establishments through September 30, 2027, or until funding runs out; overtime inspection applies to services outside regular hours, with rates near $90/hour and holiday rates about $106/hour, and relief requires submitting FSIS Form 5200-16. USDA announced the Stand Up Program (up to $50 million) to help states establish or expand state meat inspection programs in partnership with FSIS; state programs must meet standards at least equal to federal requirements, but sales are generally limited within the state unless using Cooperative Interstate Shipment. The Senate Ag Committee advanced the Farm Bill 12–11, including language directing USDA and USTR to find a WTO-compliant path to reestablish mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. Finally, cattle imports from Mexico resumed via Douglas, Arizona on Aug. 24 under a phased reopening after New World screwworm-related closures, with 580–850 head/day moving and heavier cattle (700–900 lbs), while Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico remain closed and future reopening depends on disease risk and progress under the joint action plan.   Visit us at https://southwestmeat.org/   Topics 01:10 FSIS fee relief extended 02:15 How overtime inspection works 03:19 How to apply for relief 04:06 USDA Stand Up program 05:46 State vs federal inspection 07:46 Farm Bill update 08:48 COOL language explained 09:59 Mexico cattle border update 10:59 Port capacity and outlook 12:28 Wrap-up and newsletter

    Meat Industry News: FSIS Fee Relief;  USDA’s $50M Program; Farm Bill & Mexico Cattle Updates

  3. Sep 17

    Jason Hinds on Marcus Food Company, Meat Trading & the SMA Family

    Neil talks with Jason Hinds of Marcus Food Company (part of the SMA family) about his experience with the Southwest Meat Association, describing how he first attended a midyear meeting, was initially singled out for coming without family, and now his family looks forward to the annual meeting because of the community and referrals it generates. Hines shares his background in corporate travel management (including work tied to major accounts like Google and Smithfield) before entering meat sales, and explains Marcus’s trading model, his focus on beef trimmings, and the competitive realities of buying and selling truckloads to processors like hot dog and sausage makers. He highlights transparency, logistics challenges, and Marcus’s technology-driven cataloging of vendors as key advantages, then reflects on food, diet, and his East Texas upbringing, and closes with thoughts on internal change, professionalism in the industry, and his working relationship with Aaron Marks.   Visit us at https://southwestmeat.org/ Marcus Food Company: https://marcusfoodco.com/   Topics 01:30 Joining the SMA 03:02 Why SMA Matters 05:28 Meat Judging Origins 06:36 From Travel to Meat 08:23 Loving the Sales Life 10:03 Tattoos and Stories 12:24 How Meat Trading Works 15:07 Honesty as an Edge 16:08 Tech Powered Trading 17:46 Where Food Comes From 18:55 Convenience And Gratitude 20:05 Know Where Food Comes From 20:52 Simple Nutrition Rules 21:56 East Texas Food Memories 24:07 Country Childhood Adventures 25:27 Sales Frogs And Cold Calls 26:11 Freight Chaos And Fixes 28:07 Truckers Keep America Moving 28:53 SMA Shoutouts And Wrap 30:03 Aaron Marks And Company Dynamics 34:06 Industry Culture Then Now 34:46 Final Sign Off

  4. Sep 8

    Meat Industry News: On-Farm Processing, Ground Beef Import Waiver & USDA Ranchers First

    The first installment of Meat Industry News reviews key U.S. policy and market developments. It discusses President Trump’s statement about expanding farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to process their own food, emphasizing that regulatory details and inspection implications are still unknown, and outlines current options (custom-exempt processing, building inspected facilities, or using inspected regional processors) plus how the PRIME Act could expand in-state direct-to-consumer sales while raising questions about inspection and retail acceptance. The episode highlights food safety, traceability, and consumer trust concerns tied to deregulation and notes that processing is only one part of building a profitable beef business. It also covers a temporary tariff waiver for 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef (100,000 per month Sept. 1–Nov. 30 through 2026), its limited market scale, expected effects mainly on ground beef, and logistics/FSIS re-inspection. USDA updates include the Ranchers First initiative’s BRAND livestock risk protection to encourage heifer retention, SPUR support and a new guaranteed loan concept for small/regional processors, and potential institutional purchasing opportunities for locally processed beef.   Visit us at https://southwestmeat.org/   Topics 00:57 Trump Processing Proposal 01:49 Current Processing Options 03:13 PRIME Act Explained 04:19 Food Safety and Trust 05:31 Profitability Realities 06:23 Tariff Waiver Imports 07:30 Market Size Context 08:33 Price Effects by Cut 09:51 Import Logistics and Suppliers 11:06 Ranchers First BRAND 12:17 Why Herd Rebuild Takes Time 13:04 SPUR Support and Loans 14:48 Institutional Buying Opportunities 16:02 What to Watch Next 17:14 Wrap Up and Disclaimers

    Meat Industry News: On-Farm Processing, Ground Beef Import Waiver & USDA Ranchers First

  5. Sep 3

    Growth, Culture, and Tex-Mex Innovation with Colby DeFriese

    Neil interviews Colby DeFriese, plant manager at Smokey Denmark Sausage in Austin, Texas, after his business card was drawn at the convention. DeFriese discusses the space and capacity limits of the early-’70s East Fifth Street facility and plans to relocate to Georgetown in the next couple years. He shares the company’s history (founded by Albert C. “Smokey” Denmark; first building in 1969; this plant built in 1972) and current ownership by Jonathan and Melissa Pace. He describes retail growth, including entry into H-E-B around COVID and the shift toward a more balanced retail/wholesale mix. DeFriese explains how Tex-Mex influences drive product innovation and how Best of the Worst competition items can become market successes; Smokey Denmark has won four times. He covers his background (H-E-B, BPI, Seaboard, A&M), responsibilities spanning production, QA, and HACCP, and the importance of USDA relationships, transparency, and culture.    Find us at https://southwestmeat.org/ Find Colby at https://www.smokeydenmark.com/ SMA StartKleen Dove Hunt  Friday Oct. 2, 2026 - Saturday October 3, 2026  Copper Ridge Ranch Nocona, Texas Visit southwestmeat.org to register.  Topics 00:23 Meet Colby DeFriese 01:20 Inside Austin Plant 01:56 Georgetown Move Plans 02:34 Smokey Denmark Origins 03:38 COVID Growth Surge 04:30 Best of the Worst Wins 05:06 Why SMA Matters 06:58 Building Your Network 09:00 Career Path in Meat 12:22 R&D and New Recipes 16:47 HACCP and Compliance 18:58 Food Safety Spotlight 20:18 City Consumer Disconnect 21:20 Transparency In Processing 22:56 Culture Makes Quality 23:17 Proteins And Product Claims 25:27 Ingredient Label Reality 26:49 Managing Cost Volatility 29:15 COVID Pivot Retail Wholesale 31:09 Raising The Next Generation 36:16 Personality And Leadership 38:06 Ideal Customers Barbecue 40:25 Smoky Denmark Origin Story 42:37 Visionary Integrator Dynamic 44:08 Wrap Up And Call To Action

  6. Aug 20

    SMA Intern and Scholarship Recipient - Meet Meredith Magliolo

    Hosts Brittany Moore and Lacy Bates welcome SMA summer intern Meredith Magliolo to the Meat People Podcast to discuss her background, college life, and convention experience. Meredith, a junior agribusiness major at Texas A&M from Schulenburg, Texas, grew up in her family’s meat business, Willie Joe’s Processing, which does custom, deer, and retail processing. She shares lessons on hard work from her parents, her favorite ag economics classes and mentor Dr. Mendes, and a Scotland agriculture study abroad. Meredith describes receiving an SMA Foundation scholarship in honor of Cecelia Railey and what it meant to meet her after Railey’s Hall of Honor induction, emphasizing donor impact. She outlines her internship work on convention signage, social media reels, and logistics, highlighting the welcoming SMA culture, networking, and favorite convention event, Best of the Worst. Meredith encourages students to pursue internships, build connections, and stay open-minded about careers in the meat industry.   Topics 01:49 Meredith Basics and A&M 02:47 Choosing Agribusiness Path 04:34 Hobbies and Fun Facts 05:56 Family Processing Business 07:46 Lessons From the Plant 09:30 College Favorites and Mentors 10:49 Study Abroad Scotland 11:59 College Challenges and Advice 14:13 SMA Scholarship Story 16:41 Cecilia Raley Connection 18:20 Internship How It Started 21:24 First Day Nerves and Culture 23:01 Day to Day Intern Work 23:54 Projects Skills and Reels 26:42 Working With SMA Team 26:47 Office Culture Fit 27:15 Intern Funny Moments 28:39 Convention First Impressions 30:09 Best of the Worst 30:59 Convention Rewards Challenges 33:00 Steps and Soreness 34:03 Scholarship to Intern 35:21 Post Graduation Plans 36:12 Why Apply to SMA 36:58 Rapid Fire Favorites 42:17 Advice for Students 44:22 Internship in Three Words 45:27 Closing Thanks and Wrap

    SMA Intern and Scholarship Recipient - Meet Meredith Magliolo

  7. Aug 6

    David Englutt on Western Swing, Sales & the SMA Family

    Neil interviews David Englutt about his life, singing, sales career, and long involvement with the Southwest Meat Association (SMA). Englutt describes gaining confidence singing classic country and Western swing (Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Faron Young, Bob Wills) and appearing with the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, including a March showcase in Wichita Falls. He outlines his career path from Tarleton State—where he joined activities, discovered meat judging, and won a national championship—into Cargill as its first pork-division management trainee, helping start plants in Beardstown, Illinois and Ottumwa, Iowa, then moving through Smithfield/Gwaltney, Jimmy Dean/Sara Lee, and into equipment and packaging sales before joining Townsend Engineering and later Morrell, which was acquired by JBT. Englutt shares customer-retention keys (integrity, product knowledge, consistency), a sales process acronym “PATTERN,” and emphasizes relationship-building. He recalls his first SMA convention in San Antonio and serving multiple terms on the board, describing SMA as a supportive, family-like community. SMA StartKleen Dove Hunt  Friday Oct. 2, 2026 - Saturday October 3, 2026  Copper Ridge Ranch Nocona, Texas Visit www.southwestmeat.org to register.    Links https://jbtmarel.com/ https://southwestmeat.org/   Topics 01:24 How Singing Started 03:00 Old School Country Tales 04:08 What He Does Today 04:42 Mergers and Growth 05:40 Keeping Customers 07:07 Meat Judging Roots 08:11 Getting Involved Early 10:48 Cargill Career Break 13:59 Smithfield and Tar Heel 15:16 Learning to Sell 19:14 Sales Process Pattern 21:37 First SMA Convention 24:59 SMA Family Culture 26:28 Final Thanks and Wrap

  8. Jul 30

    Recap of SMA’s 70th Annual Convention & Supplier Showcase

    Brittany Moore and Lacy Bates kick off a new twice-yearly Meat People podcast recap series by reviewing the 70th SMA Annual Convention and Supplier Showcase at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, with about 532 attendees. They highlight student workers; board updates, and major events such as the Bob Andusek Memorial Golf Tournament (about 110 golfers) that raised $16,860. Friday featured education sessions, scholarship research presentations, and policy updates and a record 92-company Supplier Showcase. The Surfin’ USA dinner and auctions raised roughly $73,000 for scholarships, contributing to $171,000 awarded across 50 scholarships, and Hall of Honor inductees included Ray and Donna Kimbrell and Cecilia Raley. They announce the first podcast guest raffle winner and share dates for the 71st convention, July 28–31, 2027 in Bastrop, Texas.   00:00 Welcome and New Recaps 02:02 Galveston Venue Overview 02:58 Wednesday Student Crew 04:50 Registration and Reception 05:49 Board Meeting Updates 07:27 Golf and Mosquitoes 11:39 Thursday Night Music 13:21 Friday General Session 19:30 Best of the Wurst 24:40 Supplier Showcase Record 27:27 Surfin USA Dinner Theme 29:27 Heads or Tails Game 30:47 Auction Night Highlights 31:03 Auction Bidding Drama 31:45 Record Scholarship Fundraiser 32:48 Coffee With Mindy 34:04 Saturday Speaker Highlights 35:15 Gen Z Talent Panel 37:11 AI Takes The Stage 37:55 Poolside Member Hangout 39:00 Scholarships And Awards 40:32 Hall Of Honor Stories 42:43 Dance Floor Finale 44:02 Rapid Fire Recap 46:42 Behind The Scenes Fixes 48:42 Why Convention Matters 53:18 Favorite Moments Picks 58:50 Podcast Raffle Winner 01:00:13 Final Thanks And Next Year

See All (38)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

MEAT People is the official podcast of SMA (Southwest Meat Association)— a twice-monthly audio and video series designed to connect, celebrate, and inform SMA members and industry stakeholders. Hosted primarily by SMA Member, Neil Dudley with Pederson’s Farms, with rotating co-hosts and guests. MEAT People will showcase stories from across the meat processing and packing industry, highlight SMA’s resources and events, provide updates, and foster networking within this unique and collaborative industry community. The tone will be welcoming, conversational, and informative — like catching up with family at a reunion (except with more brisket).

Information

  • Creator
    meatpeople
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    MEAT People

You Might Also Like