Advanced Manufacturing Podcast

This is our first guest episode of the podcast! The folks over at Renew Rural Iowa were kind enough to allow us rebroadcast rights for the interviews they do with their monthly Leader Award winner. In this episode, Bob Quinn of WHO radio visits Fairfield Iowa to talk to the founder of Agri-Industrial Plastics, Dick Smith. Also featured in the episode is President of the company, Lori Shaefer-Wheaton. Agri-Industrial Plastics has been around for nearly 40 years and they make some incredible products. From fuel tanks, to kayaks, canoes, playground slides, and pig feeders, they do it all. Their operation, located in Fairfield, Iowa, employs around 200 people and, like many in the manufacturing industry, is looking to continue to grow. Automation plays a key role in their company as unemployment in Jefferson County sits below 3% making finding workers a challenge. This episode was made possible by the folks at Renew Rural Iowa. The Iowa Farm Bureau has an innovative program to enhance and improve economic gr