What's New

HCC Aggies Tour Companies

HCC Aggies Tour Companies

Eleven Highland Community College Ag students joined instructor Clifford Hawk and visited Triumph Foods and Bioenzyme, Inc. located in St. Joseph, MO. Triumph Foods is one of the premier hog processing plants in the United States, processing over 21,000 hogs daily, with a plant covering 660,000 square feet.  Triumph is a producer-owned company that buys less than 10% of its kill in the spot market.  The company employs over 3,000 people and is a major employer in our area.  The facility has been upgraded and was impressive as the students found very interesting the use of CO2 stunning of hogs prior to bleeding.  Triumph is one of the few operations in the US to use this new technology which was recently added to its operation. Projected gross sales this year are expected to top the 1 billion dollar mark with sales not only in the United States but over 16 other countries.

Over a short noon hour, the students also worked in a 25 minute visit to the St. Joseph Stockyards to watch current prices at the weekly feeder cattle auction.

Bioenzyme, Inc. is a local company which has been in operation for more than 50 years. It manufactures and markets livestock supplements and minerals featuring its patented microbe technology.  Bioenzyme primarily sell in the United States but recently entered international markets with sales to Japan and various European companies.  It recently received an award from Missouri Governor Jay Nixon for its contributions to agriculture in Missouri.

Students making the trip were Tanner Aherin (Phillipsburg), Erin Dolecheck (Highland), Chelsea Gabriel (Grain Valley, MO), Wyatt Heuertz (Valley Falls), Josephine Kiefer (Everest), Wade Meeks (Effingham), Jessica Neibling (Highland), Elizabeth Patrick (Tonganoxie), Mike Rottinghaus (Seneca), Stephanie Scales (Denton), and Syvannah Williams (Leavenworth). 

Back to News »