May 23, 2024 – Missouri Western State University is pleased to announce that a new industrial area under construction in the Convergent Technology Alliance Center (CTAC) will be named in honor of two leading businesses in the meat industry. The Triumph Foods and Daily’s Premium Meats Industrial Technology Bay will recognize the enduring impact the meatpacking industry has had on the region’s history – and will be an integral part of the applied learning labs that will be used for industry innovation for years to come.
“The meatpacking industry has played a distinguished and significant role in the economy of St. Joseph from its earliest days, and I’m pleased that history will be reflected in CTAC,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western State University’s president. “We are extremely grateful to Triumph Foods and Daily’s Premium Meats for their support of the project, and proud that we can recognize that support by naming a portion of CTAC in their honor.”
CTAC, currently under construction on Missouri Western’s campus, is a partnership with North Central Missouri College to serve workforce development needs in skilled manufacturing, construction and related industries. The new technology bay will be part of CTAC’s grand opening this Fall.
Funding for the $12 million project has been provided by Missouri Western, NCMC, the State of Missouri, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County and several local businesses.
Previously, Missouri Western announced that other parts of CTAC would be named the Gray Manufacturing Workshop Bay, the Altec Manufacturing Technology Bay, and the Humach Advanced AI, IT, and Cyber Science Bay in recognition of the support from those companies for the project. Triumph Foods will also be joining the CTAC Leadership Board to ensure that the training the students receive align with manufacturing needs in operations for years to come. The continued partnership with Triumph Foods and Missouri Western will benefit the CTAC students and local community.
“We are one of the most technically advanced pork production plants in the country, and our need for highly skilled team members is constantly growing,” said Matt England, Triumph Foods president and CEO. “We are excited that MWSU, NCMC and the other community business partners are investing in developing the workforce of tomorrow, and proud to support this transformational project.”
Triumph Foods began operations in 2006 and has grown to one of the top pork producers in the United States. Triumph employs over 2,400 workers and produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually. The plant sells 30% of its product to 25 foreign countries, contributing significantly to St. Joseph’s status as the third largest exporter in the state of Missouri. Daily’s Premium Meats is 50% owned by Triumph, and opened a bacon plant in St. Joseph in 2016.
About Missouri Western State University
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
About Triumph Foods
Triumph Foods is a leading processor of premium pork products worldwide. The farmer-owned company began operations in St. Joseph, Mo., in January 2006. With its state-of-the-art facility, Triumph employs over 2,400 workers and produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually. For more information, visit triumphfoods.com.
About Daily’s Premium Meats
Daily’s Premium Meats is a leading provider of high-quality premium bacon that has been operating for more than 130 years. Founded by John R. Daily in 1893, the company’s commitment to quality and mastery inspires every product produced to this day. Daily’s Premium Meats’ connected food system fosters collaboration among farmers, bacon processing plants and networked supply chain, allowing Daily’s to control the production process from farm to delivery. For more information, visit dailysmeats.com.