HUNTINGBURG, IND. – Construction has started on a $12.8 million expansion for Farbest Foods Inc., a global supplier of raw, fresh and frozen turkey products. The project will expand the deboning room at the company’s Huntingburg, Ind., facility. Stellar, a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration and mechanical services firm, said the project is on track for completion by July 2022.

Farbest said the additional 22,000 square feet will enable the company to streamline its turkey deboning process and improve output.

“It’s important for us to keep evolving and improving our practices at Farbest so we can maintain our mission of providing customers with top-grade turkey products,” said Ted Seger, president of Farbest Foods. “We knew Stellar’s expertise and experience would make them a great partner as we work to improve our already world-class facility.”

The Huntingburg facility was built in 1969 and has been expanded twice – once in 1986 and again in 2008. But construction on the expansion revealed unique challenges for the Stellar team. The firm identified soil issues as they needed to match new construction technology with an existing 35-year-old structure.

Stellar’s project management team elected to use fill and wick drains under the expansion site, which are designed to speed up the settlement process and reduce the risk of long-term settlement issues.

“There are other solutions we could have pursued, but we decided on an approach that was optimal for the site and the owner's objectives,” said Michael Grochowski, Stellar’s lead design manager on the project. “This method was both effective and cost-efficient. It also speaks to our team's expertise and willingness to investigate creative solutions to best meet our clients’ goals on any project."

The turkey deboning room expansion is Stellar’s second and largest project with Farbest Foods.

"This new addition will enable Farbest to transition from manual turkey deboning to a more automated, machine-driven process,” said Tyler Netting, lead construction manager. “We’re building out the new refrigerated space and adjacent shipping docks, which will enable the owner to incorporate new equipment into the deboning room.”