Howdy Ags

I just had an interview with Cargill on monday for a Protein Supply Chain rotational associate. I really like the job and if it were offered to me I would take it. I wondering if there are any Ags that could answer a couple of questions I have about Cargill. Does anyone know what the pay range for this position would be? I did not think it was appropriate for me to ask on the 1st interview. The interviewer said since it is a 2 year rotational position with the 1st year maybe being in Kansas, she did say some do not go to headquarters in Kansas because they request to go somewhere else. Is there anyone that knows if that is true because it is preferred that i stay in Texas.

Lastly, I work at HEB is there an ag that works at HEB that I can connect with about any career advancement

I spent a significant amount of my career with Cargill, but in a different platform and BU. I can't answer your question on comp and location. Asking the comp question on the first interview is never a good way to go, IMO. If you're open to relo, that will open many doors for you at Cargill.

Do you work at corporate for HEB? My sister has been with HEB for about 15 years now. She started out doing something with the pre-marinated fajitas, then she did something for Central Markets around the Capital area, then she did something with all the own brand items and their labels. She also kinda headed up the team that came up with the meal simple line for them and has been doing that for a while now.

She is an Ag, class of 2006. I am sure she would talk to you about things if I asked her. She definitely doesn't do TexAgs so I'd have to hit her up for you if you wanted to talk about career advancement stuff.

Similar to KCAg, as an outside commodities futures broker, I had the rare pleasure of doing business w/ Cargill/Excel Beef on hedging transactions/strategies for 14 years ('90-'03). I heard Cargill has slipped to the second largest privately held firm in the US or world (not sure which). They were solidly #1 in my day but the Koch Bros (also of Wichita, KS) surpassed them once their pipeline business took off. Cargill held 2 seats on the Chicago Merch Exchange and had a large internal team of traders so it was unique that I even got to do business with them as an employee of a large outside trading firm. I was solely their ***** representative for 5 of those years. I hope the following statement is still true but for 100 years prior to '03, Cargill was one of the highest integrity companies in the entire world. I loved dealing with them. I dealt with their feedlot operations, kill/fab (beef) and further processing side (Foodservice). While I grew up in NE Tx and got a BS in An Sci in '88, my personality style didn't always jee-haw with their midwestern mindset. That's likely my fault; I used to talk faster than most NY fish traders at Fulton.

It's somewhat hard to pinpoint your job specs from the description, so additional intel would help. I spent a few days/mo in Kansas as a trader. Mostly in Wichita but went to the Lake Office in MN a few times as well. Nice people but it always seemed "brown" to me. They have a fantastic golf course in Wichita. Food is BLAND AF. Bring Tony Cachere's with you…every time. If you'll be living in SE Kan you'll have great people there too but they only highlight for me was pheasant hunting (FYI, a classmate of mine ran 2 of Cargill's feedlots around Liberal, Ks and his hands had fantastic dogs). Same is true if they have you living near their kill/fab plant in Dodge City but if pheasant hunting intrigues you then make a friend at the feedlots.

Best of luck and I bet they are every bit the quality company I experienced simply because they rightly value culture and character above everything else.

I would appreciate you connecting me with her about career opportunities at heb, sorry for the late response

I just had my second interview with cargill and I told them I was open to relo and they asked my preferences for locations for my 2 year supply chain rotational program. The 1st year is an operations role at a protein plant which could be in Texas and I told them that was my preference. Second-year is supply chain rotation in Whicita, KS but I was told there was 2 plants in Texas that I could do my operations rotation and supply chain rotation at a single plant. I told them I am open to relo but if the opportunity to stay in Texas arose then I would like that option to be open to me. How likely do you think Cargill will keep me in Texas?

I just had my second interview with cargill and I told them I was open to relo and they asked my preferences for locations for my 2 year supply chain rotational program. The 1st year is an operations role at a protein plant which could be in Texas and I told them that was my preference. Second-year is supply chain rotation in Whicita, KS but I was told there was 2 plants in Texas that I could do my operations rotation and supply chain rotation at a single plant. I told them I am open to relo but if the opportunity to stay in Texas arose then I would like that option to be open to me. How likely do you think Cargill will keep me in Texas?

I work in store operations looking to move up with MWT jobs or corporate jobs

Congrats on the second interview. If you're open to relo, and mean it, go where they send you. If you say you are open to relo, but really don't want to do it, then tell them that. Worst thing to do for both you and Cargill is to relo, when you really had no intention of doing so, and leaving shortly after... I've seen it too many times. Plus, you may be on the hook for relo expenses if you quit early.

If I were in your shoes, I would take the operational rotation at a plant, and supply chain rotation in Wichita. This will provide you with an opportunity to work at a plant and gain that direct experience, as well as work in protein HQ and gain a lot of exposure to the rest of the business and networking opportunities. The relationships you could build in Wichita, and the work you do, could benefit you in future opportunities and roles. BUT... this is my perspective knowing what I know now. You've got to make the best decision for your situation.

Keep us posted how things unfold.