Donnavon Eaker and Rachael Lee, owners of Steve’s Meat Market in Ellendale, attended the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors annual convention at the St. Cloud Convention Center on March 12 and 13.

At the 2010 product show competition, Lee won numerous awards. She received reserve grand champion awards in wieners and Minnesota-grown product (smoked wild rice blueberry sausage); champion awards in whole bone-in smoked ham, cooked summer sausage (regular), and ring bologna. Lee also received champion awards in dried beef (cured and smoked beef), and specialty whole-muscle (smoked apple cinnamon bacon).

While there, Eaker and Lee attended continuing education seminars that were held for all members of this statewide meat processors association. Lee is the daughter of Donnavon Eaker and the late Steve Eaker and has been instrumental in continuing his legacy of producing the same high quality smoked and cured meat products in southern Minnesota for over 37 years.