It’s become an annual event. The folks at Olson’s Meats and Smokehouse in Enumclaw venture down to the Northwest Meat Processors Association competition and bring home a winner, or two, or three.

This year was no exception. Olson’s waltzed down to Oregon March 18-22 and brought home top honors for its beef summer sausage, smoked chicken Italian sausage and fresh English bangers, all availabe at the shop’s old-fashioned service counter on state Route 164.

“The competition was really strong,” owner Greg Olson said. “We shared the stage with Bavarian Meats of Seattle and Hempler of Bellingham.”

The Northwest Meat Processors Association is a group of small independent retail markets, most of which are family owned, and a handful of smoked and deli meat wholesale markets. The contest draws the best meat processors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.