President

Matt Elvbakken                     
Tizers Meats    

Phone: 406-442-3096

P.O. Box 4757

Helena, MT 59604

e-mail: tizers1@qwetoffice.net

Vice President:                       
Nichcol Harrell                   
4th Avenue Meat Market   

Phone: 406-690-9156

9944 McCranie Street

Shepherd, Mt  59079

e-mail: mtmmpa@yahoo.com

  Secretary

Treasurer:            
Lyle Happel                          
Happel's Clean-Cut Meats           
4700 Gooch Hill Road              
Bozeman, MT. 59718               
Home Phone: 406-587-2954    
Phone/Fax: 406-587-8972
email: hapccm@imt.net

     

 Newsletter:
Keani Guthrie
Phone: 406-587-8972
Email: hapccm@imt.net

Newsletter Advertising
Robin Happel
Phone: 406-587-2954
Email: rhappel@montana.edu

Convention Chairman:

Dewey, Kathy & Jason Emmett

Stillwater Packing

Columbus, MT

Derek Manseau

Assoc. & Convention Consultant

Phone 406-350-0797

President's Corner:

by Matt Elvbakken

Hello,

Its been a hectic fall & winter so far.  I hope hunting season went well for all of you that participate in it.  Our season was down and has been for the last few years.

On that subject, I believe there are quite a few contributing factors.  First economics, fuel is a big concern, cost of processing is a concern as well, wolves and access to private land are all strong points against hunting.  However, there is another way to look at the problem.

We, as processors, can and should capitalize on the situation and be offering domestic meat as a solution to the empty freezer blues.  You imagination is your only limit.  Half & whole beef & pork down to quarters, meet bundles showcasing yyour value added products (lunch meats, cooked & fresh sausages, etc.) as well as the fresh frozen meats that are normally found in such products.  You can look at our website @ tizermeats.com or a really good website is Western Meat Block in Butte @ westernmeatblock.com for some ideas as to what you may want to do.

With tax season coming up, we should be looking at helping communities by filling their freezers before all the big box stores get their tax returns for flat screen TV's and such.

On another note, do not give up on recruitment!  United we stand, Divided we fall.  In these constantly chganging regulatroy times, the bigger the group the louder the voice!  We may need a loud voice down the road to say nothing of the new people we can meet and new ideas they can bring to our Association.

Looking to seeing all of you and come new faces too in Livingston this April.