Dakota Provisions History

In 2003, 44 turkey growers organized a committee to explore available options for marketing their flocks.

It became obvious during the course of their feasibility study that in order for the group to remain in the live turkey production business they would have to become a processor of turkey. In February 2004, the producers voted to invest in a state-of the art processing facility in South Dakota.

As the Dakota Turkey Growers continued in their commitment to build their own facility, they recognized they were very good at economically producing live birds but had a very limited knowledge of processing and marketing their finished product. During their study the growers located the ideal candidate to lead the charge.

In March 2004, Kenneth D. Rutledge, with 31 years experience in the poultry business, accepted the opportunity to lead the grower group in building a world class facility known for its commitment to food safety and technology.

On September 27, 2004, 44 growers, the Dakota Provisions management team, the Governor of South Dakota, and Huron community leaders participated in a ground breaking ceremony for their state-of-the-art processing facility on a 110 acre site east of Huron, SD.

The multi-million dollar harvest, debone, and cook facility was completed in 15 months. The plant, designed and built with food safety in mind, will have the capacity for 8,000,000 live turkeys per year as well as to produce a complete line of fully cooked pork, beef, and chicken products. All products will be geared toward the food service, co-manufacturing and niche market segments.

Upon opening, the plant will employ over 300 associates moving to more than 1,000 within five years.

What was once the vision of 44 growers across the heart of the Midwest is now a reality. Under the brand, Dakota Provisions, the family farmers will see their investments in their live production facilities and processing facility fuel over 320,000,000 lbs of live weight production each year.