Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — Bartlett Grain broke ground east of Great Bend last July for the location of their new grain elevator. The bulk of the structure is built but there are still electronics to be installed.

Manager Andrew Fullerton says Bartlett Grain is right on schedule to be up and running by May 1, before the summer harvest.

Now it is just a matter of getting their name out to the public to make them aware they are open.

“Folks that farm in the area and grain companies seem to be excited that we are here,” he said.

The Great Bend grain elevator will be the company’s 10th in Kansas. The Kansas City, Mo.-based company chose their location off U.S. 56 between Great Bend and Ellinwood carefully.

“We’re just ready to see a little more precipitation and hopefully have a good wheat crop to handle,” Fullerton said.

The elevator is designed to hold nearly three million bushels and load 110 car shuttle trains. Fullerton said Bartlett Grain will run two shifts and employ 16 to 20 people.