Our Values
Mission
We strive to delight consumers as the preferred manufacturer of premium, crafted meat snacks.
World Class Hospitality
Our business is a service and so we think like a hospitality company. We provide value through world class service, manufacturing expertise and supply chain operations.
Team Member Growth and Happiness
We create an environment for associates to thrive through training, tools and a safe workplace.
Stakeholder Success
We thrive through absolute commitment to all stakeholders: community, customers, employees and vendors.
Community & Environment
We support brands and suppliers in their missions to bring sustainable, ethical and healthy products to consumers.
Meet The Team
Matt Bormann
Chief Executive Officer
Doug Hankes
Chief Product Officer
Peter Sikorski
Chief Financial Officer
Crystal Bohm
Chief Human Resources Officer
Paul Curlee
Vice President of Operations
Randy Krahmer
Chief Information Officer
Vice President, R&D and Commercialization
John Keech
Plant Manager- Springfield Facility
Tony Campbell
Plant Manager- Galesburg Facility
Roland Vorwaldt
Plant Manager-Burlington Facility
Curtiss Kellison
Plant Manager- Greentop Facility
Nancy Cortez
Plant Manager-Shelley Facility
Roberto Giuliano
Vice President, Food Safety Quality Assurance
Brad Turasky
Vice President, Technology & Manufacturing Process
History
Greentop, MO
Galesburg, IL
Western’s Smokehouse and Thrushwood Farms were separately founded in 1978 by Sam Western and Jim Hankes. They met each other through the industry and became fast friends.
Soon enough, the second generation emerged. Kevin Western and Doug Hankes grew up in the industry together. Each had coincidentally decided to start making meat snacks.
With a shared passion, the two stayed in touch and shared ideas and best practices.
Eventually Western’s brought in a strategic partner to help grow the company. In late 2019, after a large facility expansion, Western’s and Thrushwood combined to form one company.
We have been very fortunate to see business expanding and steady growth in the meat snack industry. Because of this, Western Smokehouse Partners purchased Prairie Sky Snacks based in Springfield, Illinois in March of 2021 as well as opened a new facility in Burlington, Iowa in May of 2023.
Most recently, in May of 2024, we acquired Golden Valley Natural, a manufacturer of premium jerky and meat sticks. Golden Valley is based in Shelley, Idaho.
With all five facilities, Western Smokehouse Partners now has more than 500,000 square feet of meat snack manufacturing space and a team of nearly 900 employees. We continue to focus our production on better-for-you, premium jerky and sticks for the leading brands and retailers across the country.