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BREAKING SOD FOR THE SOYBEAN processing plant took place Monday, Nov. 26. A jubilant contingent of well-wishers was on hand to celebrate the event, representing city, county, state and federal leaders, as well as area business persons, On Hand Development Corporation and financial backers. The five directors of South Dakota Oilseed Processors take the first shovel of soil. L to r, are David Fremark, Rich Nelson, John Niederauer, Jim Keeter and Jerry Peterka, and Mike Trosen, company CEO.
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Oilseed processing plant construction is ready to begin
South Dakota Oilseed Processors took another step in their journey of bringing value-added agriculture to Hand County in the form of their soybean crush facility. Monday, Nov. 26 was ground breaking for the new facility six miles east of Miller along Highway 14.
The delegation represented at the ground breaking included SDOP management and directors, Hand County Commissioners, representative of Crown Industries (the main equipment supplier for this project), representative of Nelson Engineering Construction (the main contractor for the project), representative of First State Bank of Brookings (the main lender for the project), representatives of Senators John Thune and Tim Johnson, as well as Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the Mayor of Miller, the On Hand Development Corporation director, representative of the South Dakota Value Added Development Center, as well as District 22 legislators.
CEO Mike Trosen expressed his gratitude to all those who were able to attend. "We had a great turnout for our ground breaking," said Trosen.
After the ground breaking, a short program was held in the meeting room of First State Bank Miller, where speakers voiced their support for the project. Letters were read from Senator Johnson and Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin expressing their support for the project as well as complementing the group for their hard work and dedication to making this project a reality.
Trosen commented, "With today's ground breaking, the plan is to start construction the first week of December with ground work done in two to three weeks. After that, the construction won't resume again until next spring when concrete will be laid and the erection of the grain receiving bins and the plant itself will begin."
Trosen commented, "Although we are 60 days behind what we originally thought would be our date for breaking escrow, the plant is still on schedule."
The plant will be ready to receive soybeans mid-September of 2008 and will be ready to crush beans around the first of October of 2008.
One major change that has occurred since the plant was proposed is with the General Contractor. Nelson Engineering and Construction of Sioux City, Iowa is now the General Contractor. According to Trosen, "Nelson Engineering and Construction brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our project and we are extremely happy to have them on board. We feel they will be an excellent partner in our project and we look forward to their expertise as we build our plant. It is critical that we build a strong foundation for our business to grow from."
Currently, SDOP has 295 investors from 63 communities across South Dakota. The average investment in the project is close to $30,000. Investors can request a log-in and password from the South Dakota Oilseed Processors to access an investor-only page on their Web site. South Dakota Oilseed is still taking investor equity.
For more information, call CEO Mike Trosen at (605) 893-2326.
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