Digging in with Ethan Meissner, FFA Entrepreneurship Winner

April 12, 2023 | 12 MIN READ

Meet Ethan Meissner...

Ethan, member of Wisconsin's FFA chapter, has been employed at a local meat processing facility since he was 15. The skills he learned on the job helped him to become a national proficiency winner in the area of Agricultural Processing Entrepreneurship/Placement. Let's hear what he has to say about his experience thus far!

Global Food

Inspiring Stories

Digging in with Ethan Meissner, FFA Entrepreneurship Winner

Ethan, member of Wisconsin's FFA chapter, has worked in a meat processing facility since he was 15. The skills he learned on the job helped him to become a national proficiency winner. Let's hear what he has to say about his experience thus far!

April 12, 2023 | 12 MIN READ

Meet Ethan Meissner...

Ethan, member of Wisconsin's FFA chapter, has been employed at a local meat processing facility since he was 15. The skills he learned on the job helped him to become a national proficiency winner in the area of Agricultural Processing Entrepreneurship/Placement. Let's hear what he has to say about his experience thus far!


We spoke with Ethan about how he started from the ground floor, cleaning the facility and assisting customers, where he is now, and what he hopes to do in the future. He is currently a sophomore studying agricultural engineering at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and hopes to stay involved in the processing side of the industry since there are many processing-related careers, such as creating new equipment and machinery.

Working from the ground floor up, Meissner’s responsibilities started with cleaning the facility and assisting customers in loading up their purchased products. His on-the-job performance has led to experience in mixing, stuffing, and grinding the product, as well as cutting fresh product for retail sales. Meissner also engaged in the smoking, curing, packaging, and labeling processes.

Since meat processing takes many years of experience, he is looking forward to continuing to learn the trade, he said. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him.