It all started on the heels of the Civil War when in 1865, William Wallace Cargill became the owner of a single grain warehouse in Conover, Iowa. Now, Cargill is celebrating 150 years of that legacy that started at the end of the McGregor Western Railroad and has become one of the largest privately-held enterprises in the world with a new website of stories of that history and innovation.
“We are proud of our legacy and the many people who have created it,” said David MacLennan, Cargill’s president and chief executive officer. “Throughout our anniversary year, we will be reflecting on our past and present, and we’ll use those reflections as a springboard to help us focus our thinking on how we can help our partners and customers thrive in an increasingly complex world.”
In 2015, for example, Cargill will bring together emerging international thought leaders with Cargill Learning Journeys in Africa and China, and will prominently participate in events where improving food security and sustainable food production are core topics.
Cargill also is marking its 150th anniversary with an online collection of stories, highlighting its long legacy of innovation and its commitment to helping nourish people around the world. The stories are an account of the people, decisions and innovations that shaped Cargill as it evolved from its modest beginnings in the American Midwest to a major international marketer, transporter and processor of agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.
The website not only covers the humble beginnings of Cargill but the global power it has become. Check it out here.