Mike has been in the meat processing industry for more than 40 years. He began his career at his parents meat processing plant in Swiss, Missouri. Mike and his wife, Lynette, ventured out on their own in June 2011. They opened the doors to their own business on September 1, 2011. The Hermann Wurst Haus is located in historic, downtown Hermann, Missouri. Mike has free rein at the Hermann Wurst Haus where he can showcase his expertise and creative bratwurst and sausage recipes.Over the course of Mikes career, he has won more than 500  national, state and regional awards; including 14 best of show honors and 10 international awards at the German Butchers Assn. in Frankfurt, Germany. He has served as president of the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) and past treasurer. He is a past president of the Missouri Association of Meat Processors (MAMP). Mike is also a three-time hall of famer; inducted into the Hermann Wurstfest Hall of Fame in 1997 and in 2012 he was inducted into the MAMP Hall of Fame.