National Jerky Day

National Jerky Day celebrates dried meat snacks and the long-standing appeal of a food that is portable and can be kept without refrigeration. Drying meat makes it easier to carry, which helped make jerky a useful food for travel and storage. In the United States, the practice of drying meat has been associated with Native Americans and early European settlers who sought portable foods, according to a 2012 announcement from Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.

National Jerky Day was founded in 2012 through a collaboration between Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and the Wisconsin Beef Council, and it is observed annually on June 12. Jerky comes in many varieties, including beef, turkey, chicken, and pork, with flavors ranging from savory to sweet and spicy. The inaugural observance featured jerky-themed artwork and a new advertising campaign from Jack Link’s.

How to Observe National Jerky Day

Celebrate by enjoying your favorite jerky or trying a variety you have never tasted before. You can also use jerky as an ingredient, or try making your own with a smoker or dehydrator, as suggested by Lee’s Market Jerky. To share with others, consider donating jerky or other nonperishable foods to a local food pantry or charitable group.

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