2026 Best Butcher Contest

Application deadline April 14

Butchers and meat cutters from across the Northeast region, spanning Maine to Virginia, are invited to apply for the 2026 Best Butcher Contest, scheduled for May 14 at the Penn State Meats Lab in State College.

Hosted in partnership with the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), a subcontractor to the Beef Checkoff, and the PA Pork Producers Council, the contest will take place during the Pennsylvania Association of Meat Processors annual convention, one of the region’s largest gatherings for butchers, meat cutters, processors and industry professionals.

The 2026 contest will challenge participants through multiple skill-based events, including:

•Precision cutting of beef and pork subprimals

•Product yield evaluation

•Consumer display development and a sales-pitch component

Competitors will have the chance to demonstrate their expertise, gain regional recognition and compete for the title of “2026 Best Butcher” and a cash prize.

Butchers and meat cutters interested in competing can learn more and apply at nebpi.org/education/best-butcher-contest.

Applications are due by April 14.