For Rick McLimans, the meat & seafood processing industry was always more than a job.

“This was my career,” he reflected. “Everyone I work with is my friend. My colleagues and customers are my friends. It’s hard to walk away.”

That sentiment is one of the reasons Rick has earned such respect throughout the industry. Whether helping a startup processor develop a signature sausage blend or advising long-time customers on new flavor trends, Rick became a trusted partner to processors across North America.

His dedication was formally recognized in 2018 when he received the AAMP F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award, one of the meat industry’s most prestigious honors. The award recognizes individuals who have devoted much of their careers to serving meat and poultry processors, particularly small- and medium-sized plants. Rick is also a 2002 inductee in the Cured Meats Hall of Fame.

In his nearly twenty years with Excalibur, Rick’s guidance helped countless customers succeed. When Rump’s Butcher Shoppe in Altoona, Wisconsin, was getting off the ground, the team turned to him for expertise and support.

“Rick consulted with us about our meat products and the best way to proceed as a new-age butcher shoppe,” recalled former owner Bob Adrian. “We spent a year with them developing the right flavor profiles.”

His relationships often extended far beyond business. Jake Sailer of Sailer’s Food Market & Meat Processing in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, described working with Rick and the Excalibur team as something more personal.

“I enjoy that Rick McLimans and the rest of their team have built a relationship with us that feels like family,” Sailer said.

Appropriately, Rick chose the 2026 AAMP Convention in Milwaukee as his final industry trade show.

“I attended my first AAMP show in Milwaukee in 1985, two years after I opened The Butcher Shop, LLC., in Fennimore, Wisconsin,” he reflected. “I wanted to make this AAMP my last show. Milwaukee is my home turf, and it’s good to see everyone one last time.”

As a token of appreciation for his years of service and dedication, Excalibur presented Rick with a retirement gift tailored to one of his lifelong goals: an all-expenses-paid trip to IFFA 2027 in Frankfurt, Germany, the world’s leading trade fair for meat and alternative protein processing, packaging, and sales technologies. The May 13-18, 2027, event is a destination Rick has long hoped to experience, making it a fitting way to celebrate a career spent learning, teaching, innovating, and building relationships throughout the meat & seafood industry.

“While customers and colleagues will miss seeing him on the road, Rick’s impact will continue to be felt through the businesses he helped build, the products he helped develop, and the friendships he cultivated along the way,” says John Brewer, Excalibur vice-president of Sales & Marketing.

From everyone at Excalibur Seasoning, thank you, Rick, for your commitment, leadership, and unwavering dedication to our customers. We wish you safe travels, a wonderful retirement, and an unforgettable experience in Germany.