Small Town News

Crane, Ralphs Packing win national honors

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Gary Crane, owner and president of Ralph's Packing Co. of Perkins, Okla., was recognized nationally this summer for his outstanding and continuing contributions to the meat and poultry industry. He was awarded the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) highest honor, the 2009 Achievement Award.

The award was presented during the 70th American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition in Omaha, Neb.

As a youngster, Crane worked part-time at Ralph's Packing Co. since his father, Ralph Crane, purchased the business in 1959.

Gary Crane and his wife, Tess, met while attending Murray State College. The couple then attended Panhandle State University, where Crane worked in the meat lab, majoring in meat science with a minor in business. He graduated in 1971, earning a Bachelor's degree in animal science, and returned to work in the family business.

Ralph's continues to be owned and operated by the Crane family. Ralph's performs custom processing and sells to the wholesale trade. Its quality meat products draw customers from across the region and are sold in numerous retail outlets. The company has also gained national notoriety for its awards in meat industry competitions and meat smoking contests.

The business has significantly grown over the years and includes Crane's wife, Tess, plus their daughter, Erica, and her husband, Jason Hering.

Crane is a lifetime member of the Future Farmers of America and belongs to several cattle organizations. He supports local 4-H and FFA, often serving as judge at local meats competitions. The company was also recognized in July when it won national recognition at the American Cured Meat Championships (ACMC) held July 16-18, in conjunction with the AAMP Convention. The ACMC annually draws hundreds of entries from the entire United States. This year there were 734 entries in 25 product categories.

Ralph's Packing Co. was awarded 1st Place, Grand Champion, in the Coarse Ground Frankfurters/Wieners class and 4th Place, Reserve Champion, in the Heavyweight Bacon class.

All entries were judged on the basis of aroma, flavor, eye appeal, color and texture.

Erica Hering, of Ralph's Packing Co., said the company started producing its "No Junkyard Dogs," the product that won the Coarse Ground Frankfurters/Wieners class, about seven years ago.

"We wanted a hot dog that was a good quality meat hot dog," she said. "That's where the name came from -'No Junk.'"

The "No Junkyard Dog" is a bit longer than conventional dogs, Hering said. Plus, Ralph's puts eight hot dogs in each package, to accompany the eight buns commonly packaged.

Besides the "No Junkyard Dog," Ralph's also produces a jalapeno/cheddar-flavored hot dog.

"We've placed twice [at the national championships] with those," Hering added.

The company started entering the American Cured Meat Championships in 1989. That first year, Ralph's took home a first place prize for its beef sticks.

Hering said their Heavyweight Bacon, which won the Reserve Champion prize this year, is the same quality product Ralph's has been producing since 1959. This is the fourth time the company has won with the bacon.

Ralph's Packing Co. is a member of the American Association of Meat Processors, the nation's largest trade organization representing small businessmen in the meat/food related industry.

The business has won more than 250 cured meat awards from the Oklahoma-Texas Meat Processors Association and more than 30 awards from the AAMP's American Cured Meat Championships.

Crane was inducted into AAMP's Cured Meats Hall of Fame in 2000, and continues to volunteer for OTMPA and AAMP.

Ralph's is currently undergoing an expansion at its retail shop, located on West Freeman Street in Perkins. The grand opening for the new expansion will coincide with the company's 50th anniversary celebration, which is scheduled to begin at the end of October.



Copyright 2009 The Perkins Journal, Perkins, Oklahoma. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Perkins Journal Perkins, Oklahoma. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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