RIVER FALLS, WIS.– The University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) recently received a donation of a commercial smokehouse from Pro Smoker.

The new equipment will be used for meat processing and technology at its on-campus plant and assist with growing research and education.

“We are committed to developing the next generation of meat processors right here in our home state,” said Joe Hanni, chief executive officer of PS Seasoning and Pro Smoker. “As leaders in smokehouse design and technology, we are dedicated to equipping educational institutions with the tools they need to prepare students for the workforce. This investment gives students valuable hands-on experience and strengthens the future of the industry.”

The UWRF meat plant operates as a federally inspected facility in the Agriculture Science building. The plant is primarily run by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES). The facility is designed to duplicate full-scale meat processing operations, giving students hands-on experience in harvesting, fabrication and value-added processing.

“UW-River Falls is truly unique in offering a fully USDA-inspected, start-to-finish meat processing facility,” said Ryley Rehnelt, meat plant manager at UWRF. “Along with UW-Madison, we are the only campuses in the Universities of Wisconsin with this level of capability. Our primary focus is supporting undergraduate education in meat science and processing while providing students with real-world experience in every aspect of the industry.”

The company donated a Pro Smoker 500T truckload smokehouse to maximize production capacity as part of the university’s meat processing educational program.

“The 500T gives our students the opportunity to work with industry-standard equipment, building skills they’ll use in commercial production settings,” Rehnelt said. “From smoked product production to thermal processing, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers across the meat industry.”

With its installation, the new smokehouse helps integrate teaching and production operations for people at the UWRF plant. 

“We are extremely grateful to Pro Smoker for this generous gift to our meat science program,” said Mike Orth, CAFES dean. “This smokehouse provides our students with the opportunity to work with commercial equipment, create value-added products and engage with industry partners. It directly supports our mission of offering high-impact, hands-on experiences that prepare students for success in the meat industry.”