You Can Tour This Missouri Smokehouse And See How Its Famous Bacon And Hams Are Made

Most people only see bacon after it lands in the frying pan. Here, you can actually see what happens before that.

This Missouri smokehouse offers tours that take visitors behind the scenes of a company known for hams, bacon, and other cured meats.

You get a closer look at the smoking process, production areas, and the kind of work that goes into turning simple cuts of meat into something ready for breakfast or dinner.

It is part factory tour, part food history, and a lot more interesting than staring through a deli case. If you like knowing how your food is made, this stop gives you a pretty satisfying peek behind the curtain.

A Family Recipe That Started It All

Picture a farmer in central Missouri back in the old days, curing hams with a recipe his German mother passed down to him. That farmer was E.M.

Burger, and his small side project slowly grew into the business you can visit today.

What I love about this story is how simple it really is at its heart. He started with salt, sugar, patience, and a recipe that clearly worked, and the family kept it going instead of trading it in for something faster.

You can feel that steady, homegrown spirit the moment you start reading about the place, and it makes the whole visit feel more personal.

The business is still run by the Burger family, which is honestly kind of rare for a company that ships food all over the country. Each generation has added new ideas and new products, but the core idea of curing meat carefully has stayed in place.

Knowing that history ahead of time makes the exhibits and the video tour a lot more meaningful, so read up a little before you go.

When you walk in, try to imagine that first small batch of hams hanging in a farm smokehouse. It is a nice way to remember that big things often start in a very ordinary kitchen.

Finding Your Way Down Highway Eighty Seven

Getting there is half the fun, because the drive rolls through quiet farm country with wide fields and gentle hills on both sides of the road. Burgers’ Smokehouse sits a few miles south of the town of California, close to the Moreau River.

Plug this into your map so you do not miss it: 32819 Highway 87 S, California, MO 65018. Once you get close, watch for the signs, because the smokehouse is out in open country rather than tucked into a busy downtown.

The buildings are easy to spot once you are on the right stretch of highway.

Since it is in a rural area, I would fill up the gas tank and maybe grab some water before you get too far out. Cell service can be patchy in parts of the countryside, so having your directions loaded ahead of time is a smart move.

You will be glad you planned a little when you are cruising along without a worry.

The location is also handy if you are already exploring central Missouri, since Jefferson City is not a long drive away. That makes it easy to pair this stop with a capitol visit or a scenic loop through the nearby hills.

Just leave yourself enough time to relax instead of rushing through.

Walking Into The Visitor Center

You know that feeling when a building smells so good you start getting hungry before you even sit down? The visitor center has that effect, with a cozy, country feel that welcomes you in right away.

The space is set up to tell the story of the smokehouse in a way that is easy to follow, even if you have never thought much about how ham gets cured. You will find displays, photos, and plenty of room to wander at your own pace.

It feels more like stepping into a friendly country store than walking into a factory lobby.

My advice is to slow down and actually look around before heading straight to the counter. There are little details tucked into the displays that explain the curing process and the family history in a really approachable way.

Kids tend to enjoy poking around here too, since there is a lot to see without needing to read long signs.

The sales room is part of the visitor center as well, so this is basically your home base for the whole visit. You can start your tour from here, ask questions at the desk, and come back later to shop.

Having everything in one spot keeps things simple and relaxed for everybody in your group.

Settling In For The Video Tour

Here is the thing you should know before you go: the tour happens on a screen instead of on the actual production floor. Honestly, that turns out to be a pretty clever way to see everything up close without getting in anyone’s way.

All you have to do is stop by the sales room and let the receptionist know you would like to watch the tour. From there, you head into the theater, grab a comfy seat, and let the video show you how the hams and bacon are made.

It is relaxed, easy, and great for folks of any age.

The video takes you behind the scenes into parts of the operation that visitors could not safely walk through anyway. You get to see the curing, the smoking, and the careful handling that goes into each product.

Food safety rules are strict in a meat plant, so this setup lets you peek inside while everything stays clean.

If you are traveling with little ones or anybody who gets tired of walking, this part is a real winner. Everyone gets to sit down, rest their feet, and learn something new at the same time.

Pay close attention, because the samples afterward make a lot more sense once you know the process.

Exhibits On The Art Of Curing Meat

Ever looked at a country ham and wondered what actually turns plain pork into something so rich and salty? The exhibits here answer that question with real ingredients, old photos, and interesting artifacts.

You will see the basic building blocks of dry curing laid out right in front of you. Salt, pepper, and brown sugar do most of the heavy lifting, along with a whole lot of time and careful attention.

Seeing the ingredients up close makes the process feel less mysterious and a lot more down to earth.

The old pictures and tools are a treat if you like history even a little bit. They show how curing used to be done on farms, long before modern equipment came along.

It is fun to compare those scenes with what you saw in the video tour, because you can spot what changed and what stayed the same.

I would suggest reading the signs out loud if you are visiting with a group. It turns into a nice conversation about how families used to store food and why curing mattered so much in rural Missouri.

You will probably leave knowing more about ham than you ever thought you would, and that is a pretty fun souvenir.

Country Hams With Serious Bragging Rights

Let me brag on these hams for a second, because they have earned it. Burgers’ is known as one of the biggest producers of naturally cured country hams in the whole country.

The process is old school in the best way. Each ham gets rubbed with a mix of salt, pepper, and brown sugar, and then it rests and ages for many months while the flavor slowly deepens.

Nothing about it is rushed, and that patience is exactly what gives a country ham its bold, savory taste.

If you have only ever eaten the soft, sliced ham from the grocery deli, a country ham is a whole different experience. It is saltier, firmer, and packed with flavor, so a thin slice goes a long way.

Lots of folks love it fried up with biscuits, or tucked into a breakfast plate with eggs and gravy.

When you are shopping, do not be shy about asking which ham style fits your plans best. Some are ready to cook, some are fully cooked, and the staff can point you toward an option that works for a holiday meal or a simple Sunday breakfast.

Either way, you are bringing home a little slice of real tradition.

Sausages, Turkeys, And Barbecue Too

Hams and bacon get most of the spotlight, but please do not stop there when you are browsing. The smokehouse makes a whole lineup of other smoked goodies that are worth a long look.

You will find a variety of sausages that work great for breakfast or tossed on the grill for an easy supper. Smoked turkeys are a big favorite too, especially for holiday gatherings when nobody wants to spend all day at the oven.

They come with that same steady hickory flavor the bacon is famous for.

And then there is the barbecue, which includes things like pulled pork and brisket. These are handy when you want a smoky meal without firing up a smoker in your own backyard.

Just warm, serve, and let everybody think you worked much harder than you did.

Think about what is coming up on your calendar before you shop, like a family get together, a game day party, or a busy work week. Having a few ready to heat items in the freezer can be a real lifesaver on hectic nights.

Take a slow walk through the store so you can see everything they have, because there is more variety than most people expect.

Samples And A Smokehouse Sandwich To Wrap Up

After the video wraps up, you actually get to taste some of the products, which is such a thoughtful touch. It is one thing to watch how the food is made, and something else entirely to try it right there.

Sampling is also the easiest way to decide what to bring home. You can taste the difference between flavors and styles before committing, so you are not just guessing from the labels.

Take note of what you like best, because it will make shopping a whole lot simpler.

Still hungry for something heartier before the drive home? Swing by the sandwich bar and grab a fresh smokehouse sandwich made with their own meats.

It is a casual, satisfying way to finish your visit, and it beats a fast food stop on the highway any day.

Grab a seat, enjoy your lunch, and take one more look around at the place that has been curing meat for generations. It is a cozy way to close out a trip to this corner of Missouri.

I have a feeling you will be planning a second visit before your sandwich is even gone, and maybe bringing a cooler next time for all those extra goodies.