That recent addition to the plant will produce corn syrup, much of which will eventually be used to make candy.

Cargill employees, customers of the company and local leaders gathered Wednesday to celebrate the debut of the corn syrup production line.

“I definitely thought this was a great day to celebrate,” said Astra Ferris, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

Ferris attended Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the new facility.

“This is a world class facility,” she said.

Webster County Supervisor Mark Campbell, who was also on hand for Wednesday’s event, agreed, saying “Cargill sets the bar high.”

“The impact is definitely great as far as economic impact,” Ferris said. “We want to make sure at the Growth Alliance that we are constantly promoting growth not only by new businesses but by existing businesses as well. This is an example of growth by an existing business. That’s exciting to see that come to fruition.”

Campbell said he is “incredibly excited about the continued reinvestment” by Cargill.

“This is an exciting day for Webster County,” he added.

The addition of corn syrup production to the plant was announced in August 2022, and construction began soon after that.

Since the project was announced, Cargill leaders have consistently said that it would not create a lot of new jobs but would create opportunities for current employees to get more training and move into higher paying jobs.

The corn syrup production area is on the south side of the plant and despite its size isn’t visible from any road.

The finished corn syrup is a very thick clear fluid that is shipped out of the plant in tank cars.

Company officials declined to say how much corn syrup the plant will make.

The Cargill plant in the ag industrial park called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation opened in 2013.

Cargill Plant Summary

Opened: 2013

Products: Corn syrup, dextrose, ethanol, feed for cattle, corn protein meal fed to poultry, corn germ, and a molasses like substance called corn steep liquour

Employees: 160 Cargill employees plus 80 people who work for various contractors who are assigned to the plant

Corn use: 150,000 bushels per day

Corn deliveries: 250 trucks a day, five days a week

Water use: 3 million gallons per day