The celebration was part of the state sausage king competition and was organised by the Australian Meat Industry Council.

The Kangaroo Flat butchers were judged as having the best kabana and bacon in central Victoria.

As a result, they were automatically in contention in this year’s Victorian Small Goods Competition and they were successful, with their bacon and kabana judged as the second best in the state.

“The awards were judged on flavour and appearance,” business owner Brad Plant said.

He said the award was very satisfying, adding: “It is a very big thing.”

What made the recognition even more pleasing was that Mr Plant and his wife Karen lost their home in the Black Saturday bushfires.

Along with the house, 14 years of memorabilia and records were destroyed.

“It made it very hard to try and fix what we had lost,” Mrs Plant said, “but it is encouraging to keep going when you win these types of awards.”