Washington’s meat processing industry employs thousands of workers across USDA-inspected packing facilities, WSDA-licensed custom processors, retail meat operations, and value-added processing businesses. To support this growing industry, Capital STEM Alliance was awarded a grant by Career Connect Washington to develop Capital Apprenticeship in Meat Processing (CAMP), a career and technology education (CTE) pathway.
In Thurston and Lewis Counties, the industry spans custom plants in Centralia, Chehalis, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Rochester, Yelm, and Tenino, as well as the retail meat operations serving those communities. Despite this scale, the industry consistently reports difficulty filling entry-level positions with candidates who have foundational knowledge of food safety systems, carcass handling, and regulatory compliance. This pathway is meant to bridge the gap between the industry and workforce training.
“That is why this project is so exciting,” said Lorie Thompson, regional administrator for Capital STEM Alliance. “Once the CTE curriculum has been approved by OSPI, schools can offer students coursework and help them gain transferable skills in these high-demand, high-wage occupations, and prepare them for lucrative careers.”
Career Opportunities
CAMP graduates will be able to enter the workforce as entry-level employees in the following fields:
- Meat cutting and processing
- Local, state, or national meat or health and food inspection
- Quality assurance and food safety auditing
- Plant management
- Laboratory work
CAMP partner organizations include PacMtn WDC, Colvin Ranch, NW Meat Processors Association, WSU Extension-Thurston, Centralia College, Tenino, and Rochester School Districts. Many of these partnerships can lead program graduates straight into the workforce, apprenticeships, community college, or four-year degrees.
Curriculum Development
The high school CTE curriculum in meat processing has been developed and is under review to ensure alignment with both the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and industry standards and to provide course equivalencies in math, science, and social science.
Once approved, the curriculum will be available statewide for CTE programs to adopt and utilize.
Get Involved
Capital STEM Alliance is seeking additional CTE agricultural instructors to join its curriculum advisory committee.
