CONTENTS 74 Wisconsin River Meats rises from the ashes after a devastating fire in 2022 Cover: Agri Beef and its partners plowed through challenges, including the pandemic, and built a new beef plant with a promising future. Source: True West Beef 08 COMMENTARY First quarter takeaways 10 BUSINESS NOTES 14 WASHINGTON USDA proposes COOL rule 16 COVER STORY Agri Beef's new home-grown processing plant 22 MEAT PERSPECTIVES Dairy beef makes the grade 26 RETAIL REPORT 2023 Power of Meat report 30 TOOLS OF THE TRADE Mixing and grinding equipment 36 SMALL BUSINESS Colors of success: Blue & Gold Sausage Co. 40 EXECUTIVE SERIES NAMI's Julie Anna Potts 4 MEAT+POULTRY | 04.23 | www.meatpoultry.com 44 INGREDIENT ISSUES International inspiration 50 POULTRY PROCESSING TECH Deboning and cutting 68 COMPANY PROFILE MeatCrafters thrives 74 PLANT PROFILE Wisconsin River Meats 78 FROM THE CORRAL Stunning controversy 80 CALENDAR 82 GIVING BACK 84 NAMES 86 SHOWCASE 89 ADVERTISER INDEX 90 THE INSIDER SUSTAINABILITY 56 PROTEIN PACT Unlocking silver linings 62 CARBON NEUTRAL MARKETING Climate friendly beef Wisconsin River Meats; Tyson Foods Inc.http://www.meatpoultry.com