Saluting our High Plains’ manufacturers
Most celebrations begin with great fanfare, but like many in the High Plains, there is one that deserves greater recognition.
National Manufacturing Month is celebrated in October and kicks off with National Manufacturing Day Oct. 2.
The High Plains region is filled with agricultural and nonagricultural manufacturers that provide important jobs to rural communities.
Stories abound about farmers and ranchers who remember first working for a local manufacturer, sale barn, equipment dealer or cooperative so they could pay bills and build their farm enterprises. That formula is prevalent in the High Plains as families use similar strategies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 40% of farmers work off the farm 200 or more days a year.
In Kansas, more than 4,400 manufacturers employ about 173,400 workers, according to the state’s Department of Commerce. Key sectors include food processing, fabricated metals and transportation, which drive a significant portion of rural and statewide industrial employment.
Major employers with agricultural ties include National Beef Packing, Cargill, Tyson, AGCO, Simmons Pet Food, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Landoll Corporation. These manufacturers also depend on local suppliers and companies for support.
Many other manufacturers employ young men and women who aspire to own a farm or ranch and are starting their own plans with a timeless strategy.
What is striking when listening to the stories of farmers and ranchers who followed this path is that, in nearly every case, they are thankful, often saying the farm would not have survived without that off-farm job. Just as importantly, the employees share success stories about what they learned about inventory, purchasing strategies and working with employees, lessons they could apply to their own operations.
One agricultural transition expert said that even if a son or daughter wants to return to the farm after college, his advice at times to those families was to have that son or daughter work off the farm for a minimum of five years before returning to the operation. Some of that, he said, was to give the family time to plan, but also to make sure the son or daughter had an opportunity to expand their knowledge.
Sixty years ago, that meant young families had to move hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Today, though, technology allows the younger generation to stay closer to the operation.
As we think about the future of farming and ranching, the synergy with local manufacturers helps maintain an optimistic view of rural communities.
HPJ’s next edition will have stories about the next generation of innovators using technology to make operations more efficient and, in some cases, putting the foundation in place for successful ventures.
Even in the most challenging times, it remains important to nurture and support the manufacturing industry in our rural communities. Manufacturers are part of the rural fabric and reward the work ethic that is the signature of the High Plains workforce.
They also help put young men and women in a position to realize their dreams of owning a farm or ranch.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
