Why Choose Agrico
You can view the full list of our customer projects here. We are especially proud that many of our customers have entrusted us with multiple projects over the years.
Expertise like no other
When you work with Agrico Sales, you’re working with truly dedicated and highly experienced professionals who have delivered quality products and services time and time again. Since our founding in 1987, we’ve been creating superior ship loaders, belt conveyors and systems, industrial storage and grain elevators to clients all over the world on-time and on-budget, and we’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Our extensive expertise lends itself to streamlined processes, saving our clients time and money.
Agrico Sales advantages
Wide Range of Product Experience
Over the last 35 years, Agrico has built numerous large and small projects for most dry bulk products on a design/build basis. Many jobs are for repeat customers, demonstrating our dedication to quality construction at a fair price.
Ownership, Management and Sales
Frank Kelly founded Agrico Sales in 1987 in Amarillo, Texas building country grain elevators. In 1991 Agrico won a contract to build a barge and rail receiving and barge loading terminal on the Mississippi River, outside of New Orleans. Agrico soon added fixed tower ship loaders to our product mix, building 26 of these ship loaders to date, with another one in fabrication. Frank continues to serve as Agrico’s President and GM on a daily basis.
In addition to Gary Handbury’s involvement in constructing our projects (below in Field Construction), Gary serves as Agrico’s Corporate Manager, involved all facets of managing Agrico.
Bob Rieck leads Agrico’s sales effort, with the assistance of Denys Gildieiev. Bob has nearly 50 years of plant operation and dry bulk handling experience with 26 of these in sales for Agrico.
Engineering
Agrico Sales has utilized the services of Gid Emery, P.E. since 1994. Although he is technically a sub-contractor, he has engineered most of our projects. Our management, shop workers and superintendents have daily contact and input in the engineering process.
Internal Shops
At Agrico, we have a 56,000 square foot fabrication shop at our facilities in New Orleans, LA. Our CNC angle line, beam line, plasma table and robotic welder enable us to fabricate major projects on-time and at a very economical price for our clients. Wally Breaux oversees the operations of the shop with the assistance of Alvin Abney, Pat Hammell, Tony Nguyen, and Jesse Woodside.
For projects in the PNW of north America or the Pacific Rim, Agrico opens a fabrication shop in Washington State. Both shops have water access, allowing us to load out large equipment to barges or ships.
Field Construction Department
David Weeks heads up this division, and he is assisted by Kevin McKean, Gary Handbury, Dave Olson, Travis Thompson and Jody Scharfenstein. Together, they have 50 years of Agrico experience between them. David has been a superintendent of large grain elevator, bringing critical knowledge to our operation.
Electrical Department
Trez Traylor, an Electrical Engineer, heads up our electrical department, allowing Agrico to engineer and install the electrical and control systems for our projects.
Ben Lang, the electrical Forman, oversees the installation of the electrical systems on Agrico Sales’s equipment.