Rick McLimans, a sales & marketing consultant with Excalibur Seasoning, has been named the 2018 F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award by the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP).

AAMP is the largest meat trade organization in North America with more than 1,300 members involved in small meat, poultry and food business. McLimans was honored at the AAMP Convention in Kansas City, July 19-21.

“Rick’s commitment to the meat industry reaches far and above his exceptional service to our company,” says Tom Hornstein, Excalibur CEO. “If someone has a problem, Rick shares the wealth of knowledge he’s collected over the years to solve it. This honor is much-deserved and we can’t think of a better industry professional to receive it.”

According to AAMP, the F.W. Witt award is given to a person or supplier company who has devoted much of their career to the meat and poultry industry, especially small and medium-sized plant operators. The late Jerry Hall, founder of Excalibur, won this award in 2003.

“Jerry Hall was a great man and Excalibur is a terrific company,” says McLimans. “I’m honored and proud to receive this award. It’s gratifying that the industry recognizes how companies like Excalibur are willing to put experienced folks on the road as consultants to work directly with customers and promote the meat industry.”

McLimans tenure in the meat business has stretched more than four decades. After graduating high school, he completed a certification course in butchering and meat cutting at Southwest Wisconsin Vocational School in 1977 and got his start as a meat cutter for Alpine Valley Meats in Norwalk, Wisconsin. Following that, he and his wife Shelli owned The Butcher Shop in Fennimore for more than 20 years where he was introduced to and mainly used products in his sausage-making business from Excalibur. McLimans later sold the company and joined Excalibur in 2007.

McLimans is also a 2002 inductee in the Cured Meats Hall of Fame.