Bartlett, a Savage Company, on Sept. 19 officially opened its soybean processing plant in Cherryvale, Kans., that is served by Watco’s South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL), Railway Age’s 2022 Regional of the Year.
Construction of the $375 million facility—including the processing plant, product tank farm, grain elevators and a multi-loop track system—kicked off in 2022
The facility will employ more than 60 full-time workers and handle up to 49 million bushels of soybeans annually, providing sustainable soy feedstocks for refined vegetable oil, animal feed, and renewable transportation fuels, according to Bartlett, which in 2021 reported that the project was approved to receive county-issued industrial revenue bonds to support development.
In addition to service from SKOL, the Cherryville plant’s location in Montgomery County offers access to highways 160, 166, 169 and 400.
A Sept. 19 grand-opening event was attended by Kansas’ Gov. Laura Kelly, as well as Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland; U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kans.); and other federal, state and local leaders.
“We appreciate the tremendous work of everyone involved in the design, construction and operation of this world-class facility, and the strong support received from community members and federal, state, and local officials,” Bartlett President Bob Knief said. “Our new Cherryvale plant will expand markets for area soybean producers and agribusinesses while driving needed economic growth in Southeast Kansas.”
“We’re excited that this plant will play dual roles in satisfying growing demand for feed and food and also renewable energy,” added Kirk Aubry, CEO of Savage. “In addition to our new soybean processing plant in Kansas, we continue to develop a range of sustainable solutions for farmers and food producers.”
