Collaboration and Creativity

Grain elevator design plays a pivotal role in the agriculture industry, serving as the backbone of efficient grain storage and transportation. The carefully crafted structures must ensure the safe storage and preservation of harvested crops, such as wheat, corn, and soybeans while facilitating their seamless transfer to markets worldwide. A well-designed grain elevator optimizes space, minimizes waste, and enhances the overall efficiency of the agricultural supply chain. Grain Journal recently had the opportunity to talk with Nathan White, the founder of AG Design, an Iowa-based firm renowned for its expertise in grain elevator design, to discuss his role in rebuilding Key Cooperative’s grain elevators after a devastating derecho tore through the heartland in August 2020, rebuilding grain elevators became a necessity for many cooperatives.

Key Cooperative, a cooperative deeply impacted by the 2020 derecho, sought White’s expertise in redesigning their grain elevator in Nevada, IA. Tasked with the challenge of preserving existing concrete storage while enhancing receiving capacities and overall usability, White embarked on a complex mission to strike the perfect balance.

However, the project brought its own set of challenges. The facility’s existing storage units and equipment tunnels had to be seamlessly integrated, requiring meticulous planning to ensure functionality and cost-efficiency. White emphasizes that this task was a collaborative effort, involving Key Cooperative members, millwrights, electricians, equipment suppliers, and AG Design.

Through collaboration and meticulous planning, the challenges posed by integrating existing structures were successfully met, reaffirming the importance of adaptability. Ultimately, investing in proper design post-storm was a vital step towards securing the long-term sustainability and success of a grain storage facility.