Elma Locker not 'jerky'ing around!

ELMA - Sometimes fate has a way of being rewarded!

This past year was one of change for the Elma Locker & Grocery and one that was good, yet sad and back to good again.

The first “good” started early on in 2023 as T.J. and Amanda Granahan bought out Joe Meirick, who had owned 50% of the business.  The young couple were planning to work with Roger Meirick, who owned the other 50%, for the next five years. They would eventually purchase the second half following the period of time, getting to learn “much” from the owner, who had started the business in 2006. 

Now for the “sad.” 

It was just five months later that Roger, at the age of 62, had a massive heart attack and died suddenly. It was shocking to the little town of 512 residents in Elma, but especially the Granahan couple as the entire establishment was now under their direction. 

“It wasn’t long after we had purchased the business when Roger passed away,” stated T.J. Granahan, who had worked side-by-side with Roger for more than a decade.  “It truly was not what we expected.  Roger had a lot of stuff that he did at the locker and only he knew how to do.  All that was lost with his death.”

With Meirick gone, it was basically T.J. and Amanda having to learn from scratch much of what Roger knew and did, but also to keep a thriving business alive and well.  With 23 fulltime and five part-time employees, it was not an easy task. 

“The good thing was much of that stuff was not all that new to me, having worked in the business for the past 13 years,” added T.J. who has a passion for the business.  “We had brought in Amanda full time, and that really helped.”

Now the second “good!” 

Having all adjusted to the loss of Roger, the Annual Iowa Meat Processors Association Convention and Trade Show was held recently and the Elma Locker had numerous entries in the Iowa Cured Meat Championships, hoping to continue on the processing plant’s tradition of winning awards.  The processor had started entering the contest in 2008 and took home three awards, including Grand Champion Large Diameter Luncheon Meat that year. Elma Locker had 41 honors before entering this year’s event, including 10 Grand Champions.