[HASTINGS, NE August 31, 2026] — Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) is investing in employee safety and development by repurposing its former agronomy facility in Blue Hill, Nebraska, into a dedicated employee training center.
Located at 2291 Hwy 281 in Blue Hill, the CPI facility previously served as an agronomy location before being decommissioned and used primarily for storage. Rather than leave the property underutilized, CPI identified an opportunity to transform the space into a centralized training facility focused on hands-on learning, skill development, safety education, and operational learning.
The facility has undergone renovations to accommodate a variety of safety and operational training programs for CPI employees. The training center will provide dedicated space for both classroom instruction and practical, hands-on training, allowing employees to learn and practice important operational and safety procedures away from active CPI locations and day-to-day operations.
Training at the facility will focus on areas relevant to CPI's operations, including inventory management, maintenance and reliability, equipment operation, and key safety topics such as confined space entry, fall protection, lockout/tagout, and hazard recognition. The facility will also give CPI's safety and operations teams the flexibility to develop additional training scenarios as operational needs and safety requirements evolve.
“The development of this training center builds upon CPI's ongoing commitment to investing in our employees. By combining hands-on training with a strong focus on safety, we are equipping employees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to perform at the highest level while returning home safely every day,” said Jon Hjetland, Vice President of Operations at CPI.
The facility is expected to be fully operational for employee training by October 1, 2026, and will serve CPI employees from locations throughout the cooperative's trade territory.
“CPI’s new training center demonstrates our commitment to both employee safety and the communities we serve. Making Local Matter is about investing in our people and providing them with the resources they need to work safely and effectively. This dedicated, controlled environment allows us to instruct both new and experienced employees in hazard recognition, safe procedures, and hands-on skills that help build essential safe work habits. Our safety team is excited about the many training opportunities this facility will provide,” said Larry Dygert, Vice President of Health and Safety at CPI.
