CONTENTS 34 The niche bison market continues to see growth with Great Range Bison leading the charge. Cover: Walt Shafer, MEAT+POULTRY Operations Executive of the Year, has a career spanning 40 years that includes every aspect of producing and processing highquality poultry. Cover photo: Ryan Alcantara Photography 08 COMMENTARY Coming out of the dark 10 BUSINESS NOTES 14 WASHINGTON Raising cattle transparency 16 SOSLAND CENTENNIAL Playin' it safe SOSLAND PUBLISHING years 22 COVER STORY Operations Executive of the Year: Walt Shafer 34 COMPANY PROFILE At home on the range 4 MEAT+POULTRY | 07.21 | www.meatpoultry.com 42 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Instilling corporate value 48 PLANT TOUR Skewering success 58 NON-TRADITIONAL PROCESSING Slaughter on the move 64 INGREDIENT ISSUES Alternative innovation 74 PACKAGING SOLUTIONS Decreasing the pace of waste 84 FOOD SAFETY Persistent pathogen 90 SMALL BUSINESS Old World expertise 94 FROM THE CORRAL Adding by subtracting 96 NAMES IN THE NEWS 98 SHOWCASE 100 CLASSIFIEDS 101 ADVERTISERS 102 THE INSIDER Rocky Mountain Natural Meats LLChttp://www.meatpoultry.com