4-H alumnus entrepreneurship
Morris Burger - Burger's Smokehouse

December 2008

Morris Burger has seen both the big and small of the ham curing business. As a boy growing up in rural Moniteau County, Mr. Burger attended one room schools. He began working with his family’s country cured ham business at an early age, and has stayed with it ever since, growing the business into a highly successful corporation. “Our goal was to create the best and biggest country ham plant in the nation,” says Burger. And he and his family have managed to do just that. Based out of California, Mo., Burger Smokehouse is the nation’s largest producer of country ham and specialty smoked meats, producing over 750,000 hams, bacon, sausage and other specialty meats.

As an entrepreneur, Mr. Burger understands the traits one must have to successfully grow a family-owned business. He emphasizes the risk-taking that is a constant reality for the entrepreneur. Referring to the famous economist Adam Smith and his work The Wealth of Nations, Burger says that an entrepreneur is “one who is led by an invisible hand…someone who is not afraid to go where there are no tracks in the snow…a person who organizes a business and assumes the risk for the sake of profit for him and his family.”

Mr. Burger is a terrific example of how entrepreneurship is generational, passed down from parents to children. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Morris saw firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit in action. His grandmother was from Germany and brought ham curing know-how with her to America. His father was the ultimate entrepreneur. His father cured his first ham in 1927, sold hams during the Great Depression, and tried his hand at different food products through the 1930’s. He was never content to simply eke out a living, but was always looking for ways to improve the financial and social standing of himself and his family.

Ownership of Burger’s Smokehouse was more like a family hobby than a business during the 1950’s, but expanded in 1955 when Morris’ father put his vision of selling hams out of state into action. Morris began to work more directly with the company in 1959, and worked with his father through the 1960’s. During that time, the company kept doubling in size under his watch.

While growing up, Mr. Burger was a member of 4-H, and is still very supportive of the program. He is a current member of the Missouri 4-H Foundation board of trustees. He is quick to point out the role that 4-H has played in his life and all it continues to provide to youth. He sees plentiful opportunities in 4-H that youth should get involved in to their advantage. Among these are public speaking, demonstrations, and other opportunities for learning and gaining practical experience. Food preparation, grafting, splicing, and basic carpentry were skills Mr. Burger acquired through 4-H. He also learned public speaking and communication skills which continue to be vital to his success as a businessman, whether working with employees, suppliers, or customers.

Mr. Burger also emphasizes the responsibility that 4-H helped him learn, which he continued to apply butchering and preparing meats. For example, failing to properly render (or separate) fat from the meat would mean scalded or unusable lard for the next year. He was given more and more responsibility year to year. As he mastered one skill, another task was added the next year.

Mr. Burger is also an excellent example of an entrepreneur who gives back to the community. Over the years, he has worked with tens of thousands of 4-H members, demonstrating curing techniques to participants in the 4-H ham project every year since 1986. Recently, the Burger family became donors of the MU Flagship Scholars program, which provides scholarships for students from Moniteau County to attend Mr. Burger’s alma mater, the University of Missouri.

In terms of advice for today’s young entrepreneurs, Mr. Burger recommends: “Don’t let fear of failure cripple you. Get yourself used to being in front of people and leading.” Echoing the pillars of 4-H character education, he says, “Honesty and integrity are very important. Once you lose credibility, it’s impossible to completely get it back. Keep balance sheets and do bookkeeping. Do what you say you’re going to do.”

To learn more about the history of Burger’s Smokehouse or to get directions for stopping by the on-site visitor center and taking a tour, visit: http://www.smokehouse.com/.

If you know another 4-H alumnus who has applied their “Clover experience” to becoming a successful entrepreneur, please contact Adam Loftin, acl7f4@mizzou.edu, 573/884-7929.