AGRI-BUSINESS TOUR ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE

JACKSON -- From polymers to packaging, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce's Agri-Business Tour covered it all.

Darrell Aufdenberg, chairman of the chamber's Agri-Business Committee, said a record 160 to 170 people took the tour, which covered Associated Sheet Metal, Knaup Greenhouses, Unistar, Fruitland Dressed Meats, Rapco and VIP Industries.

The committee "tried to pick places that would be interesting for people," Aufdenberg said. "Since I've been involved with it, we've never been to any of these businesses."

The tour alternates between agricultural and business sites, he said.

"Next year, we'll do move of the farm visits," he said.

The group, made up mostly of area farmers and business people, got an up close and personal look at industry and the impact technology has had on manufacturing.

At Associated Sheet Metal in Jackson, workers have gone "from cutting (sheet metal) on the table with snips to programming it into a computer" in 20 years of operation, said president Don Sievers.

Associated Sheet Metal employs 40 people, and last year employees worked 75,000 manhours and produced a $4.9 million volume, Sievers said.

The company manufactures HVAC and architectural metal components for heavy industrial use, he said.

Much of the process is automated, including estimates on raw materials and finished components needed for a project.

Mid-summer's not a very busy time for nurseries, said John Knaup of Knaup Greenhouse in Jackson. It's too late for spring annuals and too early for mums and poinsettias.

A cold wet spring didn't help, he said, and some people are just now putting in gardens.

The greenhouse retails a variety of plants grown from seed or rooted stock.

Unistar produces polymer pool liners, tub surrounds, truck mats and accessories and other items, said Dale Schumacher.

There's very little waste, Schumacher said. Leftover materials go back into the processor to be used in the next batch.

Fruitland Dressed Meats is planning an expansion to house its sausage-making operation, said owner Dutch Meyer, and will be offering authentic German sausages.

The business now produces 50,000 pounds of ground beef a year, Meyer said.

At Rapco, a second shift will be added this year, said co-CEO Linda Gast. Workers on the new shift will work 12-hour days on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Rapco produces audio cable components and transformers and ships to 35 countries, Gast said.

Howard Jones, superintendent of the Jackson R-2 School District, spoke to the group about the district's $7.8 million construction bond issue during a lunch break at Flickerwood Arena.

The bond issue goes before voters Aug. 6, and if approved, will fund construction of an addition at North Elementary, a new math and science building at the high school and a new elementary school to be located south of Jackson at Boehme Lane and Highway 25.

Jeff Moore, chamber president, said chamber members will be polled about the issue at the July 22 membership meeting.