Table Rock, NE - When small-town Nebraska meets big-league recognition, you get a story like Den’s Country Meats. The family-owned business in Table Rock was named the 2025 Independent Processor of the Year by The National Provisioner, earning a spot among the nation’s most respected meat processors.
The story of Den’s began in 1985, when a 19-year-old Dennis Schaardt purchased the local meat locker in Table Rock. What started as a modest custom-processing shop has since grown into a full USDA-inspected operation offering retail meats, wild game services, and an extensive lineup of house-made products including sausages, jerky, and meat sticks. By 1995, Den’s moved into its current facility, allowing for expanded production and a growing customer base. Today, Dennis and his wife Kim work alongside their daughter Courtney Shreve and her husband Seth—making Den’s a true multigenerational business.
This year’s national recognition follows an extraordinary run of awards. Den’s Country Meats entered 72 products in the 2025 German Butchers Association and AAMP international competition, returning home with 62 gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal. The team also earned the prestigious “Cup of Honor” and placed first in both the ham and sausage divisions, as well as the overall top prize. Back home in Nebraska, Den’s received the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors’ Travelling Sweepstakes Award for overall excellence—a first for any processor in the state.
The company now produces more than 80 varieties of sausage and specialty meats and has built a loyal following that stretches well beyond Table Rock. Den’s products can be found in retail coolers across Nebraska and Kansas, including in Lincoln, Beatrice, and Sabetha, and their online store now ships nationwide.
For the Schaardt family, the success is rooted in dedication, craft, and community. Dennis, inducted into the AAMP Cured Meats Hall of Fame in 2024, continues to be active in local leadership, while Courtney calls the recognition “a meaningful honor” for the entire team.
In an industry dominated by large corporations, Den’s Country Meats stands as proof that family tradition and small-town pride can still earn national acclaim.