Sixty people turned out for the annual Made in Jefferson County Tour on June 18, touring three distinctly different businesses that together illustrate the breadth and depth of the county’s economy. According to EDCO representative Brenna Fulks, 60 to 70 percent of attendees came from outside the county — a sign that Jefferson County’s manufacturing base is drawing regional attention.
Jefferson County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink served as emcee for the event, which opened at the Madras Sanitary office with introductions and breakfast before splitting into three groups for the facility tours.
Keith Manufacturing: Walking Floors, Worldwide
Keith Manufacturing employs around 200 people at its Madras facility, producing its patented walking floor conveyor systems. Tour guide Mike, a longtime employee, walked attendees through the company’s cradle-to-grave manufacturing philosophy, including just-in-time production processes and a growing roster of automation and robotics on the floor.
The third-generation family-owned business has sold approximately 90,000 walking floors worldwide and has expanded to facilities in Canada, Australia, India and Mexico. Keith actively partners with local high schools to develop internships for promising seniors.
Central Oregon Seeds: A Global Carrot Capital
Central Oregon Seed (COSI), founded in 1978, works with local growers to produce vegetable and turf grass seed — primarily carrot seed. In a good year, North Unit growers in Jefferson County produce 40 to 60 percent of the global carrot seed supply, a remarkable figure for a county of this size.
Because carrot is a biennial plant, COSI also provides refrigeration services to simulate winter for hybrid varieties that are less cold-hardy. The facility handles seed cleaning, bagging, and contracts with beehive operators for pollination services. Over the years, COSI has helped process more than 30 different crops for local farmers.
Poland Organic Dairy: High-Tech Organic Farming
Jos and Deanna Poland have been organic dairy farmers since 2019, operating as co-op members of Organic Valley. Their operation is highly automated: computerized milking machines run 24 hours a day, with cows trained to move through a robotic milking station with minimal human intervention.
The machine tracks individual milk output, sanitizes each cow’s udder, and applies suction cups — all without a human hand. Cows graze certified organic mixed-grass pastures with clover and legumes, free of herbicides, pesticides and hormones.
“Jefferson County businesses have a lot to offer,” summarized the event’s report. The tour is organized annually by EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon) to connect community members and outside visitors with local industry.