March 28, 2024

CHS Inc. donates $2,500 to local charities

CHS Inc. — North America’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company — presented five Creston organizations nominated by the local community with contributions totaling $2,500.

“CHS is a committed steward in every community in which we do business through safe and sustainable operations, along with contributions of our time and resources,” said Byron Day, CHS plant manager at the Creston plant.

Local charities receiving the donations were nominated by Creston community leaders
and active volunteers. The charities included:

• Creston Volunteer Fire Department, nominated by Fire Chief Todd Jackson

• Habitat for Humanity of Union County, nominated by CHS employee Lonnie Morris

• McKinley Park Restoration Fund, nominated by T.J. Stalker and Peggy VanPelt

• Matura Food Pantry, nominated by Lisa Williamson

• Creston High School FFA, nominated by Larry Bailey

The presentations were made at the Matura Food Pantry, which also accepted a CHS donation of approximately 200 pounds of assorted breads and muffins made with CHS Honeysoy soy flour by Upper Crust Culinary Creations, a Creston bakery.

The $500 donations are intended to build Creston-area awareness of CHS, its local soybean processing and protein manufacturing plant, and their commitment to adding value to the community and farmers it serves.

CHS recently completed a $30 million expansion of its Creston soy processing plant, which processes nine million bushels of area soybeans annually, the equivalent of production from 200,000 acres in 10 southwest Iowa counties. Products produced at Creston include non-GMO and GMO soy flour, soybean meal and soybean oil.

Day says approximately 35 percent of the plant’s production is exported to Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Mexico and Central America. In addition to that, soy flour from Creston is transported to CHS soy food plants at South Sioux City, Neb., and Hutchinson, Kan.

“Demand for soy protein is strong, which presents a great opportunity for area growers,” said Day. “Global food companies use soy protein concentrates and isolates as a meat extender in products like pizza toppings, frozen entrees and canned soups.”

Soy flour, like the Honeysoy brand made at Creston, is used as a partial replacement for wheat flour.

“Soy flour is added to recipes to increase protein and nutritional content, improve product shelf life, and increase moistness in bakery products such as breads, doughnuts and cookies,” said Day.

CHS employs approximately 55 people at the Creston plant, including mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, food scientists, quality assurance and safety managers and
numerous skilled labor positions.