From Concept to Commissioning: Supporting AGP's Expansion Goals

A large industrial interior featuring numerous shiny metal pipes running overhead and between multiple tall, cylindrical tanks or silos. The setting is brightly lit and orderly, with a focus on the intricate piping and large metallic surfaces, typical of a processing or manufacturing facility.

October 3, 2025

Interstates recently partnered with Omaha, NE-based Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) to deliver its largest project to date: a greenfield soybean extraction and degumming facility in David City, NE. Through comprehensive electrical design, automation, and construction services, Interstates helped AGP expand its soybean processing capacity while meeting high standards of performance and reliability. 

"This project was a full-service delivery of nearly every Interstates offering," says Brent Kooiman, Senior Design Manager at Interstates. "We were involved from early conceptual design through commissioning, start-up, and everything in between, including managing the overall project schedule." 

A series of neatly arranged, vertical metal conduit pipes run from the floor up to the ceiling in an industrial building. The pipes curve at the top and spread out, creating an organized pattern against a white interior wall. The scene is clean and well-lit, emphasizing industrial infrastructure and electrical conduit management.
Prefabrication played a major role in this project: approximately 30% of the labor effort (including about 160,000 feet of conduit) was completed off-site.

Full-Service Delivery and Strategic Execution 

AGP's goal was to increase capacity and improve operational efficiency for its member cooperatives and customers. To support this vision, Interstates provided electrical design and construction, automation, networking infrastructure, instrumentation, analytics, 3D modeling, scanning, and prefabrication services. The team also led the master schedule, including daily end-of-shift meetings to review progress, align contractors, and address safety concerns. "These meetings helped us collaborate directly with AGP and the other trades, resolve roadblocks quickly, and plan daily goals as a unified team," says Eric Determan, Lead Control Systems Analyst at Interstates. 

Early in the project, one of the key challenges was navigating long lead times due to pandemic-related supply chain impacts. Interstates acted early, working with AGP to secure critical equipment even before some design decisions were finalized. "We had to make strategic decisions to order gear with built-in flexibility, and that proactive approach helped us stay ahead of delays," says Kooiman. 

The team also leaned heavily on prefabrication to manage labor constraints and site congestion. Roughly 30% of the labor effort, including approximately 160,000 feet of conduit, was completed off-site. "Prefab allowed us to shift work off-site, reduce trade stacking, and coordinate major installations with structural steel to avoid rework," Kooiman adds. 

High-Tech Operational Performance 

Advanced technologies played a central role in improving efficiency and system performance. The team used 3D modeling to coordinate designs across disciplines, validate field conditions with scanning, and provide crews with real-time access to updated models via iPads and mobile BIM stations. "The model was central to everything," says Kooiman. "It allowed our teams to build virtually before installing anything physically." 

Automation and network innovations also enhanced the new facility's operations. "We implemented Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) for the Ethernet-based control system, giving AGP zero-recovery-time communication and eliminating downtime due to network failure," says Robert Phillips, Automation Manager at Interstates. 

Interstates used a simulation station and pre-UATs (User Acceptance Testing) to validate control systems, streamline start-up, and reduce operational disruptions. "Simulation gave AGP's operators a safe environment to interact with the control system and understand how it would behave in real-world scenarios, which improved their confidence and reduced the learning curve," says Determan. 

AGP also gained advanced control features such as Model Predictive Control (MPC) for steam optimization, smart MCCs, and robust cybersecurity controls. "The system offers traceability, automation-driven efficiency, and self-healing capabilities that allow real-time process adjustments," says Phillips. 

A large gray industrial electrical control panel stands indoors with many switches, handles, and warning labels on its doors. Numerous metal conduits run from the top of the panel up to the ceiling in a well-lit, clean industrial space.
Thanks to the deep relationship with AGP, Interstates was able to anticipate needs and deliver valuable solutions to successfully complete this project.

Long-Term Partnership and Project Success 

Throughout the project, Interstates leveraged its longstanding relationship with AGP to anticipate needs and deliver solutions that added value. "We were involved before the site was selected and were able to set the direction from the very beginning," Kooiman notes. "That level of trust made it possible to adapt quickly, resolve design gaps, and keep the project moving forward." 

The entire operation benefited from Interstates' collective effort. "With a project this large, nearly every Interstates discipline was engaged," said Determan. "Our team stayed focused and determined to deliver a successful result. That's something we're very proud of."