THANK YOU
TO OUR 2017 CONVENTION SPONSORS
THUS FAR
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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MWFPA Convention/Expo Proves Successful
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This year's MWFPA Convention & Expo was held November 28 - 30, 2017 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN, bringing together over 900 industry professionals from the Midwest and the around the U.S.
The trade show included the ever popular Big Prize Raffle and Expo Cash drawings and 140 industry suppliers exhibited cutting-edge equipment, technology and services on the expo floor. The convention featured the 4th annual Silent Auction, educational sessions and industry networking events including our first ever casino night. Returning to the convention this year too was the always popular forklift rodeo. See local television coverage of the rodeo here.
 The All Industry Reception Tuesday night was jam packed with convention goers and was a time for industry friends and acquaintances to relax, have fun and celebrate all of the past year's successes.
 Wednesday's kick-off breakfast welcomed noted business and sports author Ross Bernstein who left a lasting impression on many. He gave an entertaining presentation about winning with integrity. He told us that being a champion is about doing little things the right way and presented the 8 traits that drive momentum in sports and business beginning with "passion."
Thursday's Safety Breakfast welcomed Wells Fargo's chief agricultural economist Michael Swanson who provided us with a lot to think about, not least of which is that, from an economic standpoint, it's good to be in the food business!
There were no Brahman bulls, nor any sort of bucking broncos - only the concrete badlands of the Mayo Arena where our third semi-annual forklift rodeo took place.
There eleven of the most talented forklift drivers -- aka "mechanical cowboys," from MWFPA member facilities competed for such prizes as a championship belt buckle, trophies and cash. The bottom line however was braggin' rights at the warehouse in this version of a showdown at a modern-day OK Corral.
Seneca Foods dominated the field with Jeff Papke from Seneca-Glencoe taking the champion's belt buckle and first-place trophy, followed closely by Travis Haugstad (Seneca-Rochester) and Jiles Herpel (Seneca-Cambria). Congratulations!
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Forklift rodeo champion Jeff Papke (C) from Seneca-Glencoe is flanked by second-place finisher Travis Haugstad (L)(Seneca-Rochester)and third-place contestant Jiles Herpel (R)(Seneca-Cambria)
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Thanks to Steve Wallis of Seneca Foods, Jason Atter of Bush Brothers, Don Pohl of Seneca Foods, David Dineen of Hyster-Yale and
Ed Gergets, Matt Fisher and Andrea Jorgensen of Fairchild Equipment
for planning and overseeing the rodeo.
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A special thanks to our rodeo sponsors: Fairchild Equipment, Bush Brothers, Kaman, JAX and PSI.
Breakout sessions hosted a handful of hot industry topics covering everything from FSMA to waste treatment practices. All the sessions
received positive reviews all around.
This year's convention also featured our first ever Casino Night. Over 100 convention attendees converged on the DoubleTree Hotel to enjoy"gambling," and refreshments. |
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Players received $2,000 in "cash" to start the night engaging in craps, roulette and poker to win additional chips that were exchanged for raffle tickets |
The always popular Silent Auction held during the Chairman's Reception Wednesday evening raised over $4,000 for the MWFPA Scholarship Fund, which supports higher education for the children of MWFPA members each year. Attendees bid on power equipment, sports tickets, golf outings, a robotic vacuum cleaner, other electronics and a selection of wine and cheese baskets.
 The convention ended on a humorous note with comedian Tim Cavanagh who customized his jokes and songs to the food industry. He provided us with some hilarious audience interaction as he took his bag full of fun prizes and engaged the audience with his quick wit.
It wouldn't be an MWFPA convention without a bevy of prizes being distributed prior to everyone's departure. Among the prizes this year were a 50" 4K Big Screen TV, a Go Pro Hero Five Black, an iPad, a $4,000 travel voucher and of course, plenty of cash!
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Ann Barrett (L) and MWFPA intern Hannah Niles (R) present a 50" TV to Lakeside Foods' Shue Her (C).
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Thank you to all the attendees, our sponsors (featured along the left hand side of this news bulletin) the Board of Directors, AMO and the Convention Committee. We could not have pulled it off without your support. Your assistance makes this event bigger and better every year.
The AMO and Convention Committees will soon begin planning for next year. We look forward to a new and exciting convention and expo November 27-29, 2018 in Wisconsin Dells, WI at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center. Mark your calendars now!
More photos from the convention may be viewed at MWFPA's Facebook photo page.
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Seneca Foods' Brekken To Chair MWFPA Board
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MWFPA Board Chariman Jon Brekken of Seneca Foods Corp.
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John Brekken, VP Western Operations & Agriculture for Seneca Foods Corporation in Montgomery, MN has been named chairman of MWFPA's board of directors for 2018.
Jon has served on the Board since 2010 and has served on the executive committee since 2015. He also serves on MWFPA's MN Legislative Committee.
Several changes and additions to the MWFPA Board of Directors were announced at the annual meeting:
Ryan Downs (GLK Foods) and Mike Forbes (Hormel Food) agreed to serve another 3-year term.
Gregg Ruffalo of Plainfield Trucking will be stepping down from the Board and Steve Hughes from Lyco Manufacturing will take his place.
Our newest Board membe
rs are Tom Kwak from Chippewa Valley Bean Company and Chris Jones of McCain Foods who will be replacing Darek Frye. The board of directors thanked Frye and Gregg Ruffalo for their service on the board.
Our new officers for 2018 are:
Chair: Jon Brekken, Seneca Foods Corp.
Vice-Chair: Tom Timm, Birds Eye Foods
Sec/Treas: James Knetsch, Del Monte Foods
Past Chair: Mike Forbes, Hormel Foods Corporation
In addition to the above officers, the MWFPA Board of Directors includes:
Rob Anderson - Bonduelle
Joe Breid - Bush Brothers
Ken Sevcik - Fairbault Foods
Ryan Downs - GLK Foods
Joe Yanda - Lakeside Foods
Bob Porter - Layton Systems
Bob Goeres - Lodi Canning Co.
Steve Hughes - Lyco Manufacturing
Chris Jones - McCain Foods USA, Inc.
Thanks to all these fine people for their service to the association and the industry and congratulations to our new officers and board members.
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OSHA Extends Compliance Date For Electronic Reporting
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To allow affected employers additional time to become familiar with a new electronic reporting system launched on August 1, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extended the date by which employers must electronically report injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) to December 15, 2017.
OSHA's final rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses sets December 15, 2017, as the date for compliance (a two-week extension from the December 1, 2017, compliance date in the proposed rule). The rule requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information they are already required to keep under existing OSHA regulations.
OSHA is currently reviewing the other provisions of its final rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses and intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to reconsider, revise, or remove portions of that rule in 2018.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information, visit
www.osha.gov.
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FDA Working To Address Concerns Over Regulation Of Human Food By-Products
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The FDA is committed to working with industry to address concerns about the regulation of human food by-products used for animal food, and is considering approaches that balance practical and public health considerations.
Several sectors of the food industry have expressed concern about having to meet preventive controls requirements under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for certain activities commonly performed to facilitate the storage and transportation of these by-products.
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Litigation Reform Bills Introduced In WI Legislature
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With the WI State Legislature currently recessed and only a few legislative days scheduled in January, February and March, the race to get bills scheduled and passed continues.
Reps. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Sens. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and David Craig (R-Big Bend) are circulating litigation reform legislation (
LRB 4700) aimed at lowering costs for Wisconsin businesses and government. The bill would modernize Wisconsin's civil procedures for discovery and class actions to align with current federal rules.
To date, a number of legislative initiatives supported by MWFPA have been signed into law, including:
Administrative Rules - Known as the REINS Act, it requires legislative approval for any rule promulgated by a state agency that will have an economic impact of $10 million or more over a two year period
. Signed into law as WI Act 57.
High Capacity Wells - This legislation allows high capacity well owners to maintain, repair, replace and transfer ownership of their already permitted high capacity wells without having to go through another lengthy review process.
Signed into law as WI Act 10.
Renewable Energy - Creates renewable resource credits for industrial processes that employ waste heat for reuse within the facility to meet energy needs. Signed into law as WI Act 53.
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MN Budget Forecast Sees $188M Deficit
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 An economic forecast released Tuesday shows the state of MN with a $188 million shortfall at the end of the current two-year budget cycle. But that sum could change drastically with a tax bill and other measures winding through Congress.
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton says he won't make any budgetary plans until an updated economic outlook is released in March. He said he'd rather rework pieces of the state's new $46 billion budget rather than plug a funding gap with Minnesota's rainy day fund.
State budget officials attributed the shortfall, identified in a new state economic forecast released Tuesday, to slower-than-expected economic growth along with tax and spending decisions made by the Legislature earlier this year.
Lawmakers return to the Capitol on Feb. 20.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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January 25, 2018: Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum. Union South, University of Wisconsin, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, WI,10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Receive up to date information regarding Wisconsin's outlook for major agricultural commodities with coverage of key specialty crops that contribute to the agricultural impact of Wisconsin. For more information and a current agenda for the day, click here.
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Check Out MWFPA's Customized Property & Casualty Insurance For Members Only
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The Midwest Food Products Association is pleased to announce that
its members now have access to an exclusive insurance program that is written specifically for our industry. With assistance from the risk management firm Hays Companies, this program offers a customized Property and Casualty insurance program.
The program offers a complete insurance program for all business types, from processor to manufacturers, logistics to wholesaler and anything in between. No market segment is excluded, and no organization is too large or too small.
Learn more about what the MWFPA Insurance Program can do for you by visiting the program's website:
https://mwfpa.haysprograms.com/.
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