Agricultural News
Feedlot Capitalizes on Tours to Showcase Operation and Spread Awareness
Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:53:37 CST
Driving up to the Kuner Feedlot in northeast Colorado, visitors may notice a sign that says, "No Public Tours," but that's more of an artifact than a rule at the 100,000-head yard. This year they hosted more than 100 groups at Kuner, which is one of the 12 feedlots in the JBS Five Rivers group.
"I think we've realized that we don't have anything to hide," says Kuner General Manager Nolan Stone. "We can show people what progressive beef production looks like and that if there is something that they think we can do better, we tell them all to let us know and we want to do the best we can. We want you to see our animals. They're healthy and happy and that our employees like to be there. And we're proud of what we do. We don't feel ashamed to show anybody that."
Tours ramped up after Five Rivers completely renovated the lot in 2010. Since then, they've added a full-time tour guide. And, Stone says, they try to accommodate requests that include everyone from customers to industry partners to teachers' groups and World Wildlife Fund.
It takes about 45 minutes to get to Kuner from the Denver airport, so that proximity is a big draw.
"It works pretty well for people to fly in for meetings in Denver-the NCBA or USMEF-and then come to the feedyard and see a feedlot and also couple that with a JBS plant in Greeley, just down the road 18 miles from us," Stone says. "People can spend half a day and see a good packing plant and a good feedyard."
Whether they come in a single SUV or by the bus-full, Stone says his crew is happy to showcase their day-to-day operations and spread awareness about the cattle-feeding business.
"We have a beautiful facility and all the folks who work there care about the cattle and like their jobs and we're glad to show people that."
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