New Feedlot Project in Southern Pawnee County Draws Both Promise and Protest

The contents of this blog come from my interview with Mary Soukup, Director of Marketing at ILS.

A proposed feedlot project in southern Pawnee County, Kansas, has sparked a mix of optimism and concern among local residents. Innovation Livestock Services (ILS), the company behind the project, has officially begun construction on what will become a large-scale cattle operation known as ILS Feeders. The facility is expected to be completed in 2027, with cattle placements beginning once construction wraps up.

Mary Sookup, Director of Marketing at ILS, says the new feedlot is designed to support the regional agricultural economy by using locally grown corn and creating new employment opportunities. “When it’s finished, we anticipate the new feedlot creating 70 new jobs in Palani County,” Sookup said. “It will also help local corn producers by sourcing feed directly from area farms.”

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has granted ILS a final permit for water pollution control, which allows the project to move forward. According to Soukup, the company has worked to ensure that all environmental safeguards are in place. “That permit ensures our lagoons are appropriately and adequately designed and constructed to meet all pertinent rules and regulations to prevent any sort of water pollution,” she explained.

Despite these efforts, the project has faced pushback from community members who worry about potential environmental and public health impacts. Concerns have been raised about water quality, air emissions, and the overall impact of the operation on nearby neighborhoods.

ILS has emphasized its commitment to being a responsible and respectful presence in the area. “The communities that we work and live in have been good to us,” Soukup said. “We take our responsibility as a good neighbor very, very seriously, and that will be the same with the new feedlot as well.”

As construction progresses, the success of the ILS Feeders project will likely depend on how well the company can balance economic development with environmental stewardship and community trust.