CONTACT:
Amy Loudenbeck
262 206-4312
April 26, 2011 (Beloit, WI) – Two local businesses are slated to receive the StateLine World Trade Association’s (SLWTA) World Trade Award on Thursday evening, April 28, 2011, at the Beloit Inn.
The awards have traditionally been won by manufacturing and food processing companies in Illinois and Wisconsin. This is the first year that both winners are agricultural businesses. SLWTA President Brad Collins remarked that, “Many traditional sectors of the stateline economy experienced challenges related to the recession, but agriculture did really well last year.”
Wisconsin State Representative Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) is the SLWTA’s Vice-President and Chair of the Awards Committee. Loudenbeck stated that, “The weather was very cooperative last year and global demand for grain remains strong. This region of the country literally feeds the world. The SLWTA is pleased to honor the success and market share growth of these ag-related businesses.”
The Wisconsin honoree, The DeLong Co., Inc. of Clinton, WI is a fifth generation family-owned agricultural business. The company was started over 100 years ago, and serves the farming industry. The firm operates 15 locations in 3 states, supplying fertilizers and feeds and also storing and exporting feed and grains. Over the past three years, The DeLong Co. has exported over $2 billion of agricultural products.
U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) will be presenting the SLWTA World Trade Award to the Furst-McNess Company of Eleroy, IL. Furst-McNess recently expanded into the export industry and focuses on the containerized exports of DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) and other feedstuffs to Southeast Asia.
The SLWTA was formed in 1987 to promote an understanding and appreciation of the international marketplace and has been presenting awards for outstanding achievement since 1991. For more information about the StateLine World Trade Association please visit our website at http://www.slwta.org.
RESERVATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED FOR THIS EVENT. Credentialed media are advised that the awards program will begin at approximately 7 pm on Thursday April 28, 2011, at the Beloit Inn located at 500 Pleasant St. Beloit, WI.
