Nebraska’s first “poultry only” protein conversion facility was recognized during a ribbon cutting ceremony that included Governor Pete Ricketts and other local dignitaries. The celebration was the culmination of over four years of construction that also included the rebuild of the existing red meat conversion facility. Total investment at Wahoo location totaled approximately $50 million and with the poultry expansion will bring employment up to over 60 people, an increase of roughly 35 employees. The poultry facility will render byproducts from the new Lincoln Premium Poultry facility in Fremont.
Several Darling Board members were in attendance and CEO Randy Stuewe shared that the rendering business isn’t exactly the right description for what Darling does and called it the repurposing and re-processing of ingredients. “We are the original recycling business,” said Stuewe. Product from the Wahoo facilities include fats and proteins and ultimately go into bio fuel and animal feed.
Governor Ricketts praised Darling as well as the communities of Wahoo and Fremont for collaborating to bring more jobs into the area and develop a business that works hand in hand with agriculture. “That’s what it means to do economic development,” he said.
Since 2014 Darling has invested approximately $100 million in six Nebraska communities including facilities in Wahoo, Lexington, Ravenna.
The city of Wahoo is a wholesale customer of NPPD.