Burgers' Smokehouse Honored With 4-H Champion Award
Morris Burger, left, of Burgers' Smokehouse, receives the inaugural Missouri 4-H Champion Award from
Missouri 4-H Foundation trustee Elaine Anderson, right.
Photo by Casey Buckman.
COLUMBIA, MO.
Burgers’ Smokehouse was honored with the inaugural 4-H Champion Award on Sept. 27 in Columbia. Morris Burger, former president of Burgers’ Smokehouse and the son of founder E.M. Burger, accepted the award on behalf of the company. The Missouri 4-H Foundation recognized Burgers’ for more than 20 years of commitment to the University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development program.
Since the early 1990s, Burgers’ Smokehouse has coordinated with 4-H and FFA leaders to provide a ham curing session for youths involved with cured meats projects. Employees donate their time to provide hams, supplies and the instruction needed to traditionally cure a ham. About 500-800 hams are annually cured for 4-H projects at the one-day event.
Throughout the year, Burgers’ Smokehouse has donated fresh hams and bacon for 4-H and MU Extension cured meats workshops and state fair demonstrations. Assistance from Burgers’ has been essential in producing quality 4-H projects due to the freshness and condition of the meat products.
Throughout the company’s growth, Morris Burger has remained committed to championing 4-H. The E.M. Burger Foundation has donated thousands of dollars for school, community and arts projects in mid-Missouri.
The 4-H Champion Award was created in 2019 by the Missouri 4-H Foundation board of trustees to recognize Missouri businesses and organizations that provide significant support fostering positive 4-H youth development in their local communities or the state of Missouri. ∆