Building the Machines That Feed the World

The drought was one problem; jet streams shooing away rain-bearing clouds, abnormally warm temperatures, and winds wicking away what little moisture was in the ground. 

The spread of the wheat streak mosaic virus really didn’t help.

And when it did finally rain, too much of it came, and at the worst possible time. Combines were forced out of the fields and onto the sidelines during a critical window for harvest. 

Growing 346 million bushels of wheat in 2025 didn’t come easily for Kansas farmers; grain that could make roughly 32 billion loaves of bread. Enough to give every person on the planet four loaves. 

But even more than good weather and good sunshine, behind every bushel of wheat, corn, soybeans, and sorghum is an army of talented people building extraordinary machinery that feeds the world. 

And those machines are being built right here in Western Kansas. 

Home to World Class, Precision Ag-Technology

AGCO, Great Plains Ag, SurePoint Ag Systems, TAMKO Building Products, New Age Industrial… Western Kansas is home to world-class, precision technology companies that are essential to the ag-industry. 

Every planter, fertilizer system, and piece of harvesting equipment represents the skill of individuals who can take raw materials and turn them into the innovative tools that farmers around the globe rely on. 

Kansas’s farm machinery and equipment manufacturing sector alone generates a whopping $4.7 billion, creating more than 6,700 jobs. 

Those jobs that do a lot more than build equipment. They help keep one of the world’s most important food-producing industries moving, and often, in real-time. 

If you’re a machinist, you’re probably going out in the fields to work with the farmers as they harvest. If you’re a welder, you’re heading out to local shops and job sites to repair equipment, fabricate parts, and keep things humming. 

And when a student enrolls for specialized training at schools like Fort Hays Tech, Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, and Seward County Community College, they’re planting the seeds for a career that literally gives them real world experience. 

Because a manufacturing job no longer means you’ll be spending your days doing mindless, repetitive work with no shot at climbing the ladder. 

Manufacturing Skills Are Needed… and the Work Pays

That stereotypical factory-floor image doesn’t hold up to today's reality; modern, advanced workplaces filled with precise engineering, robotics, and automation, operated by highly skilled pros with the ability to solve complex problems day after day. 

For any student that likes working with their hands, a career in manufacturing means a lot of room to grow. And technical training, apprenticeships, and on-the-job learning can open even more doors to specialized roles and management positions, where the average salary is around $64,000. 

From welders to machinists to designers, each plays a central role in ensuring that the next generation of equipment meets and even exceeds the evolving needs of the ag-industry. 

Even better? The work pays. The skills are needed. And the products, especially those being produced right here in Western Kansas, have a purpose. 

Connecting You With Opportunity

At WKREDA, we’re proud of our region’s rich manufacturing heritage and the impact it has on the global economy as we celebrate October’s Manufacturing Month.

Whether you’re a student looking to learn more about a career in manufacturing, apprenticeship programs, or on-the-job shadowing, contact us to learn more about our Western Kansas Career Showcases.

We’re also here to help agricultural equipment manufacturers and other businesses find workforce and training resources, navigate incentive and financing programs to scale and grow your business, and support your expansion projects.