Kamloops-area butcher crowned B.C.’s best in 2026

Organized by BCMeats, an association of local meat producers, the competition hopes to also inspire more people to take up butchering as a career option.

Contestants were judged on knife skills, health and safety, and how well they used the meat they were given in the first round. The three finalists this year then had 45 minutes to process a half sheep in round two.

Four of the top five finishers were from the Kamloops area, Wilson said, but it was his sharp knife and sharper skills that earned him a trophy, a leather winner’s belt, $1,000 cash and a range of other prizes.

“I would have hated to be one of the judges because they sent us the score sheet and between 18th place and first place in the preliminary round was only a 20-point spread,” Wilson said. “That’s dang close. That’s a hard decision for them guys and I’m sure glad it went my way.”

Mike Jordens from Summit Gourmet Meats and Morgyn Lutz from Chop N Block rounded out the podium this year.

Wilson finished ninth in 2024 and was fifth last year. His win this year makes him the competition’s first champion from the Kamloops-area – an honour he takes very seriously.

“The meat industry is an important one for B.C., especially in this part of the country,” Wilson said. “Kamloops has been a ranching town for hundreds of years. It’s been a foundational industry in this part of the world and it’s important for us to showcase our skills.”

Wilson has been working as a butcher for close to two decades and currently plies his trade at Rangeland Meats near Heffley Creek. He has no plans on stopping and he’s already got his eyes on next year’s competition.

“We haven’t had a champion go back to the second round yet and that’s my next goal,” Wilson said. “This was number one, I guess. Now I’ve got to be the first repeat champion.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops-area butcher crowned B.C.’s best in 2026

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