Designing Grain Facilities That Last: Lessons from the Field

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Designing a grain facility is one of the most critical—and infrequent—decisions in grain handling and processing operations. The choices made during planning, layout, and construction can impact efficiency, safety, and long-term performance for decades.


In this episode of the Whole Grain Podcast, Jim Lenz, Director of Global Education and Training at GEAPS, is joined by Chris Schaudt, Vice President of Sales at Mid-States Companies, to explore what it takes to design grain facilities that truly stand the test of time. Chris brings extensive experience supporting grain facility design, construction, expansion, and material handling systems for a wide range of operations, including cooperatives, processors, ethanol plants, and food-grade facilities.


Chris shares practical insights into grain facility design, material handling systems, and the decisions that separate successful projects from costly mistakes.


Whether you're planning a new grain facility, upgrading existing infrastructure, or evaluating your current operation, this episode provides actionable guidance to help you build smarter, safer, and more efficient systems.


What You’ll Learn

• Key considerations when designing a grain facility for long-term performance 
• Common mistakes made during grain facility planning and construction 
• How grain flow and layout impact operational efficiency 
• What it means to design for future expansion and scalability 
• Lessons learned from real grain facility projects across the U.S. 
• How to avoid costly mistakes during construction and upgrades 
• Trends shaping the future of grain handling and storage systems 

Key Links & Resources

• Learn more about Mid-States Companies:
https://midstatescompanies.com/ 
• Chris Schaudt, VP Sales, Mid-States Companies
• Phone: 515-509-3011 
• Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
• Explore educational solutions and membership information at the Grain Elevator and Processing Society:
https://www.geaps.com 

Grain Elevator and Processing Society champions, connects and serves the global grain industry and its members. Be sure to visit GEAPS’ website (https://www.geaps.com/) to learn how you can grow your network, support your personal professional development, and advance your career. Thank you for listening to another episode of GEAPS’ Whole Grain podcast.