Local grain processor Bartlett Grain has been on the forefront of making sure the grain grown by local farmers is able to help feed the world for more than a century.

The company was was established in 1907 and joined the Savage family of companies in 2018, and its location at 15 NE 60 Avenue between Great Bend and Ellinwood has been in operation since 2015.

According to Del Adcock, a manager at the Great Bend location, Bartlett is “a diverse agribusiness focused on the acquisition, storage, transportation, processing, and merchandising of grain, and the company is a leading U.S. exporter of grain to Mexico. Bartlett supplies all classes of wheat, feed grains, food-grade corn, and soybeans to millers and processors and produces a full line of commercial patent flours and animal feeds.”

The Great Bend facility handles wheat and milo sourced from area farmers, cooperatives and grain elevators. The massive Great Bend facility has expanded since its inception to now handle space for 10.8 million bushels of grain.

“Much of the grain we buy locally is sent to customers in Mexico and to our own flour mills in Coffeyville, Kan. and North Carolina,” Adcock said. 

The Great Bend facility employes more than 20 workers. Adcock said locating in Barton County has been a great choice for Bartlett Grain. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to serve area agribusiness and be part of the Great Bend community,” Adcock said.

Adock sees the work Bartlett does as crucial not only to Barton County, but to the world.

“Our work at Bartlett, including at our Great Bend facility, is important for supporting food and animal-feed supply chains that rely on a consistent source of high-quality grains and agricultural products,” Adcock said.

He is also proud to be an integral part of the local economy. “Locally, the work we perform is also important to ensure that area farmers, grain elevator operators, and cooperatives have access to global markets and strong outlets for their products.”

The relationships built over 115 years in business help them better serve both their customers and partners. “We’re able to consolidate small and large quantities of grains to be shipped from Great Bend, with the ability to separate out volumes at our Mexico facilities for distribution closer to the end user. We provide safe and reliable service and better access to competitive markets, to help our customers grow their business and be successful,” he said.

“Our company is built on the foundation of integrity, innovation and hard work. We can sum up our core values as: Do the Right Thing, Find a Better Way, and Make a Difference.”

Operating hours for the Great Bend facility are seasonal and based on harvest times and other logistical factors. 

Overall, he said, the company’s purpose is to “move and manage materials that matter, enabling our customers and partners to feed the world, power our lives, and sustain the planet.”

More information about Bartlett, a Savage Company, is available on the company’s website at www.bartlettco.com.