Youth engaged in hands-on agricultural education at the Boys and Girls Club's teaching garden.
Michigan Sugar Company has unveiled a new initiative to foster economic growth and support agriculture in Saginaw, Michigan. Led by Tyler Kring, the program aims to empower youth and eliminate hunger through partnerships and hands-on learning. The project includes collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club to teach agricultural skills and will utilize harvested mint for ice cream products. This effort underscores Michigan Sugar’s commitment to both local workforce development and community well-being.
Saginaw, Michigan – Michigan Sugar Company is launching a new community engagement program designed to foster positive change and stimulate economic growth within the region. This initiative, led by Community Relations Manager Tyler Kring, aims to plant seeds of support for agriculture, empower youth, eliminate hunger, and develop the local workforce.
Key components of this program include collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club’s Edible Education program in the Saginaw Bay region. Teaching gardens have been established at each of the five locations of the Boys and Girls Club, allowing youth to engage in hands-on agricultural learning.
During monthly visits throughout the summer, Michigan Sugar staff will assist the youth in growing mint, the primary focus crop, along with various other vegetables. The mint harvested in late summer will be utilized in ice cream products produced by Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company, with all proceeds supporting youth programs.
Additionally, Michigan Sugar Company plans to forge partnerships with significant organizations later this year, including the Michigan FFA Foundation, Skills USA, and the STEM Center at Saginaw Valley State University. These partnerships aim to connect local youth with future workforce opportunities, further elevating the potential for economic growth in the community.
Michigan Sugar Company is a major player in the agricultural sector, producing 1.3 billion pounds of sugar annually and distributing it regionally. The company primarily processes sugar beets, which are planted from mid to late April and fully harvested in October. Following their harvest, the beets are stored and then transported to various production facilities located in Bay City, Sebewaing, Croswell, or Caro.
The transformation of sugar beets into white granulated sugar takes approximately 10 hours at the factory. During the processing campaign, around 140 to 150 employees work shifts at these facilities. Michigan Sugar has enhanced its operations by implementing automated systems to streamline the packing process. Since 2010, the company has transitioned from manual handling to robotic assistance, further modernizing their production capabilities.
The Bay City facility, one of the largest in Michigan, has the capacity to produce roughly 3 million pounds of sugar daily and packs around 400,000 bags of granulated sugar every 24 hours. This scale of production not only supports local economies but also plays a critical role in educating the public about their natural products and operations. Michigan Sugar Company emphasizes its commitment to dispelling misconceptions about sugar production and promoting a better understanding of its processes.
Established as the third-largest sugar beet processing company in the United States, Michigan Sugar Company consists of 865 grower-owners who cultivate approximately 140,000 acres of sugar beets. Their extensive involvement in both production and community engagement reflects a holistic approach to business—one that strives to integrate agricultural success with community well-being.
As Michigan Sugar Company implements this community engagement program, the anticipation for positive impacts on local youth and economic landscapes continues to grow. This initiative underscores the importance of agriculture as not only a source of livelihood but as a vital component for cultivating future generations.
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