2019 Iowa Meat Convention
We are proud to bring home Grand Champion Innovative Pork product from the 2019 Iowa Cured Meat Competition. Ready to eat Omelet Patties. They contain pork, eggs, bacon, and cheese. Czech it out the next time you are in!
Iowa Meat Processors Association held the 83rd Anniversary Convention and Trade Show in Ames, February 14-17, 2019. Approximately 275 people representing 39 processing plants and 44 supplier members attended the event. Cured Meat Competitions were held with the top entries taking home plaques. The awards were presented on Saturday evening at the awards banquet attended by 200 people.
There were 305 meat entries from 25 processing plants. There are twenty classes that a meat processor can enter. The products were judged by teams of thirty professionals from Iowa State University and several other universities as well as some industry experts. Products are scored on external and internal appearance, flavor, aroma, and workmanship.
Polashek's Locker entered the Grand Champion Innovative Pork Product in the competition.
2018 Iowa Meat Convention
Iowa Meat Processors Association held the 82nd Anniversary Convention and Trade show in Ames February 15-18, 2018. Approximately 275 people representing 38 processing plants and 41 supplier members attended the event. Cured Meat Competitions were held with the top entries taking home plaques. The awards were presented on Saturday evening at the Awards Banquet attended by 220 people.
There were 295 meat entries from 26 processing plants. There were twenty classes that a meat processor could enter. The products were judged by teams of thirty professionals from Iowa State University and several other universities as well as some industry experts. Products are scored on external and internal appearance, flavor and aroma and workmanship.
Paul and Adam Polashek, owner/operators of Polashek's Locker Service in Protivin, received the following awards in the competition.
- Reserve Champion Cooked Ring Bologna
- Grand Champion #1 in the state of Iowa, Meat Snack Sticks
2017 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 3 awards at annual Iowa Meat Convention.
Paul and Adam Polashek from Polashek’s Locker attended the annual Iowa meat convention. The 81th Annual Convention of the Iowa Meat Processors Association was held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames, Iowa on February 16th-17th, 2017.
Polashek’s Locker from Protivin, IA received plaques for the following entries in the competition:
- Grand Champion #1 in the state - Innovative Specialty Pork Product (Pork Bologna Shorts)
- Grand Champion #1 in the state - Beef Jerky
- Reserve Champion - Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies)
Article from the Cresco Times
Polashek’s Locker Service has been going to the Iowa Meat Processors Association Convention, and bringing home awards, since 1985. The company has won so many, there isn’t room left on the “Trophy Wall” to put them!
This year wasn’t any different as Paul and Adam Polashek made the trip to Ames for the Iowa Meat Processors Association’s 81st Anniversary Convention and Trade Show Feb. 16-17. Forty-one processing plants and 40 supplier members attended the event.
Cured Meat Competitions were held with the top entries taking home plaques. With 313 meat entries from 27 processing plants and 20 classes, the competition was as intense as ever. Thirty professionals judged from Iowa State University and several other universities, as well as some industry representatives. They returned home with two Grand Champion plaques and one Reserve Champion plaque.
“Out of the 20 categories, we entered nine,” said Adam. “We took down smokies, wieners, ring bologna, jerky, summer sausage, hot sticks, flavored hot sticks, innovative pork and lunchmeat. We start working in the locker a week ahead on the things we have to be extra good at. For example, we don’t want to take smokies, ring bologna or wieners that have any air pockets.”
For the Polashek family, going down to the convention and trade show is more than just competing. There is a lot of equipment and “deals” showcased at the convention.
“Last year we purchased a smoke generator,” he explained. “We now use pellets instead of sawdust with this new smoke generator. This means less creosote, and it works pretty slick. You always learn something there, and a lot of different lockers are there as well so it’s a good opportunity to network.”
Polashek’s Locker Service took home Grand Champion Jerky, Whole Muscle. The product is judged on external appearance, aroma, edibility, and flavor. They also took home Grand Champion Innovative Pork Product. Their product was “All Pork Bologna Shorts.” And Reserve Champion Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage. This was their “Smokie Links.”
“Plaques are given up to four places,” said Adam. “We just missed a couple of them. Our lunch meat and wieners took home fifth place. You just never know what the judges will be looking for because the judges are different each year.”
Polashek’s Locker Service has 10 employees. They keep busy year-round, and Saturday mornings are especially busy.
“We have ‘Sample Saturday,’” he noted. “And a lot of people who can’t make it here during the regular work week make it in on Saturday. We also deliver to over 40 stores, and people bring things in to butcher from over an hour away.”
Adam shared that their most popular products are hot sticks, wieners, bologna, summer sausage and the smokies. They also showcase a fresh meat case and local favorites like head cheese and jaternice.
So maybe someday you may want to meander down to Protivin to get some of that award-winning fare or local favorites. Either way, you can’t go wrong at Polashek’s Locker Service, where you are welcomed with a smile and served with small town pride.
2016 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 2 awards at annual Iowa Meat Convention.
Award winning Lunchmeat and Wieners can be purchased at Polashek's Locker or at a handful of grocery stores that carry Polashek's Locker products.
2015 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 4 awards at annual Iowa Meat Convention in Ames.
Paul and Adam Polashek from Polashek’s Locker attended the annual Iowa meat convention. The 79th Annual Convention of the Iowa Meat Processors Association was held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames, Iowa on February 5th-8th, 2015.
Polashek’s Locker from Protivin, IA received plaques for the following entries in the competition:
- Grand Champion #1 in the state - Innovative Specialty Pork Product (Omelet Links)
- Reserve Champion - Lunchmeat
- Reserve Grand Champion - Specialty Small Diameter Sausage (Smokies with Cheese)
- Reserve Grand Champion - Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies)
Omelet Links
Lunchmeat
Smokies
Smokies with Cheese
2014 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 6 awards at annual Iowa Meat Convention in Ames.
Official Press release from the 78th Annual Iowa Meat Convention:
Paul and Adam Polashek from Polashek’s Locker attended the annual Iowa meat convention. The 78th Annual Convention of the Iowa Meat Processors Association was held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames, Iowa on February 13-16, 2014.
Processors from 38 Iowa plants were in attendance as well as suppliers in the trade show displaying products and services in 42 booths.
The convention participants attended seminars on the uniform meat identity standards, production of specialty fresh sausages, specialty flavored burgers, plant sanitation regulations, merchandising and marketing, and setting up a business succession plan under the direction of Dr. Joe Cordray, Meat Extension Specialist at Iowa State University.
A total of 277 products were entered in the annual Iowa meat competition.
Polashek’s Locker from Protivin, IA received plaques for the following entries in the competition:
- Champion – Cooked Summer Sausage
- Reserve Grand Champion – Innovative Specialty Pork Product (Ground and Formed Bacon)
- Reserve Champion - Flavored Snack Sticks (Hot Sticks with Cheese and Jalapenos)
- Reserve Champion - Beef Jerky
- Champion - Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies)
- Reserve Champion – Wieners
From left to right, Cory Polashek, Darren Pecinvosky, Dave Ott, Greg Shimek, Adam Polashek
Award Winning Wieners
Award winning Flavored Snack Sticks, Hot Sticks with Cheese & Jalapenos
Award Winning Pork Innovative Product, Ground and Formed Bacon
Award Winning Beef Jerky
2013 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 1 award, Grand Champion #1 in the state, Smokies at annual Iowa Meat Convention.
The 77th Annual Convention of the Iowa Meat Processors Association was held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames, Iowa on February 14-17, 2013.
Processors from 38 Iowa plants were in attendance as well as suppliers in the Trade Show displaying products and services in 42 booths.
The convention participants attended seminars on the role of phosphates in processed meat products, calculations and mixing procedures for brines using phosphates, updates to the beef and pork check-off programs, manufacture of collagen casing smoked sausages, the link between animals fats, heart disease, and cancer, and correct naming and usage of single ingredient meat products under the direction of Dr. Joe Cordray, Meat Extension Specialist at Iowa State University.
Polashek's Locker Service in Protivin won Grand Champion Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies) in the cured meat competition at the convention.
Greg Shimek, Darren Pecinovsky, Adam Polashek show off the Grand Champion, #1 in the State award for Smokies
Grand Champion Smokies
2012 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 1 award at the 76th Iowa Meat Convention.
Polashek's Locker wins Reserve Champion for Ring Bologna in the Best of Midwest Cured Meat Competition at the Annual Meat Convention.
The Best of the Midwest Competition is a competition that consists of four states, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.
We are proud to bring home an award from a competition that consisted of four states.
2011 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 2 awards at the 75th Annual Iowa Meat Convention.
Grand Champion, #1 in the state, Paul's Lunch Meat and Reserve Grand Champion, #2 in the state, Smokies.
#1 Grand Champion Polashek's Locker Lunchmeat on the left
#2 Reserve Grand Champion Polashek's Locker Smokies on the left
2010 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 1 award the 2010 annual Iowa Meat Convention:
- Reserve Grand Champion - Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies)
2009 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 3 awards at the annual Iowa Meat Convention.
Paul, Judy and Adam Polashek from Polashek’s Locker Service, Inc. in Protivin attended the 73rd Annual Convention & Trade Show of the Iowa Meat Processors Association. The event was held at the GatewayHotel & ConferenceCenter and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames on Feb. 20-22. The conference was attended by processors from 40 Iowa plants and vendors from a wide variety of companies displayed their products and explained their services to those in attendance at the trade show on Friday and Saturday.
The convention participants attended seminars on the processing of beef and pork as well as other topics related to the management and designs of their businesses. The educational sessions on Friday were held at the ISU Meat Laboratory under the direction of Extension Meat Specialist, Dr. Joe Cordray and other meat science staff members from IowaStateUniversity. In addition to the ISU presentations, there were presentations given by speakers from CIRAS at IowaStateUniversity, VAA Extension at ISU and Doug Gross, Attorney At Law, Des Moines.
Dr. Cordray was in charge of the Iowa Cured Meats Competition held on Saturday during the convention. There were over 300 entries of processed meats in twenty classes of the competition. The entries were judged by judges from IowaStateUniversity. Polashek's Locker received the following awards at the Annual Awards Banquet on February 21, 2009:
- Champion - Whole Muscle Jerky
- Champion - Large Diameter Luncheon Meat (Lunchmeat)
- Reserve Champion: Small Diameter Smoked Cooked Sausage (Smokies)
2008 Iowa Meat Convention
Polashek's Locker wins 2 awards at the annual Iowa Meat Convention.
The annual Iowa meat convention was held February 14th-17th in Ames, Iowa. On Saturday night an awards banquet was held and Polashek's Locker was the winner of two awards.
- Reserve Champion Jerky, Whole Muscle
- Reserve Champion Summer Sausage
Protivin – Paul, Judy, and Adam Polashek from Polashek’s Locker Service Inc. attended the annual Iowa Meat Processors Association. The 72nd Annual Convention & Trade Show of the Iowa Meat Processors Association was held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the ISU Meat Laboratory in Ames, Iowa on February 14-17, 2008. Processors from 48 plants and vendors in 41 booths were in attendance for the training sessions and the trade show.
The conference participants attended seminars on a variety of processing techniques used on beef, pork, fabrication of specialty cuts from the chuck, and sausage techniques at the ISU meat lab under the direction of meat extension specialist, Dr. Joe Cordray, and other staff members from the Iowa State University.
Dr. Cordray was in charge of the Iowa Cured Meats competition and the “Best of the Midwest” with entries from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri held on Saturday. There were 400 entries of processed meats in twenty classes of the competition. The “Best of the Midwest” competition was based on four classes and all were entries were evaluated by judges from Iowa State University.
Polashek’s Locker received the following awards:
- Reserve Champion Whole Muscle Jerky
- Reserve Champion Cooked Summer Sausage
Polashek’s Locker is celebrating 25 years in the meat business in March of 2008 and would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this outstanding milestone.
