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Center Of Modern Agriculture

Agriculture

Located in the very middle of mainland America, the Greater Wichita region is an urban center amidst vast swaths of farmland from which billions of dollars in agricultural commodities are grown, harvested and distributed throughout the world. The region delivers expertise in value-added agriculture — dairy and meat products, ethanol, and oilseed processing — alongside crop and animal farming with an emphasis on protein. The Greater Wichita region not only offers connections to traditional crop production, but also sustainable construction products, healthcare innovations, advances in bioscience, and a crucial focus on food safety.

With agriculture at the heart of Kansas, there are an abundance of educational opportunities that offer students hands-on experience. Three community colleges within the Greater Wichita region, Butler Community College, Cowley College and Hutchinson Community College offer a wide array agriculture related degrees ranging from agribusinesses to farm and ranch management. The region is also in close proximity to Kansas State University, which ranks in the top 10 best colleges for agriculture sciences in the U.S. according to Niche.

$4.8B

Statewide Exports in Agricultural Products

#1 in US

Kansas Leads the Nation in Wheat Production

#1

Economic Driver in Kansas is Agriculture

Value-Added Agriculture

The Greater Wichita region is home to a high concentration of food processing applications, including wet milling, oilseed crushing, vegetable oil refining and blending, and meat processing. While over 40 percent of the sectors’ employment is concentrated in food manufacturing, the expertise and experience necessary to succeed in agriculture translates to innovative cross-sector applications. 

  • Koch Industries and Cargill Protein, two of the largest privately held companies in the U.S. are located in Wichita, Kansas. 
  • In 2019 Cargill Protein made downtown Wichita its North American headquarters with an all-new $70 million, 188,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art destination facility, designed to retain and recruit top talent and immerse customers in innovative culinary and food sensory experiences.
“We want to make Wichita the ‘Silicon Valley of Protein’ bringing together the best minds, innovation and technology in the industry.”

— Brian Sikes, Cargill Protein and Salt Chief Risk Officer

Many other global brands have offices and operations in the Greater Wichita region. Here are just a few:

  • Hiland Dairy operates 15 plants and 51 distribution centers across the region, each employing the latest in high-tech robotics and ensuring that milk is transported from the cow to the table in just 48 hours.
  • In addition to its protein headquarters, Cargill Protein proved the viability of energy-driven agriculture with the opening of a $90-million state-of-the-art biodiesel plant in Wichita, capable of producing 60 million gallons of biofuel every year. 
  • Among Archer Daniels Midland Company’s more than 160 ingredient manufacturing facilities and over 300 crop procurement facilities across the U.S. is an oilseed and agricultural services processing plant in Arkansas City, Kan., located within the Greater Wichita region.
  • Monsanto invested in a new facility in Maize Industrial Park, a suburb of Wichita, in 2018. The build-to-suit office focuses on plant breeding and ongoing research.
  • WinField United, a Land O’Lakes, Inc. brand, is one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies. In 2018 the company opened a new 253,000-square-foot distribution hub for 20 area service centers in Park City, a suburb of Wichita. 
  • Tyson Prepared Foods is one of the largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. With two food production facilities in Reno County, Tyson employs approximately 600 people.
  • American AgCredit provides loans and other financial services to agricultural and rural customers throughout the United States, and has a regional headquarters located in northwest Wichita.
Andrew Nave

Executive Vice President of Economic Development

Andrew Nave

Contact our team to discover all the ways the Greater Wichita region can position your business in the center of modern agriculture.

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