A Clinton-based company is the top containerized agricultural exporter in the U.S. This year, it earned the Governor’s Export Achievement Award.
The DeLong Company of Clinton was one of three 2025 winners. The award recognizes Wisconsin businesses and organizations for their success in growing exports and advancing the state’s reputation in international markets.
A sixth-generation, family-owned agricultural enterprise, The DeLong Company has evolved into a leading provider of grain, seed, and agronomy services. It serves both domestic and international markets with distinction.
In 2023, DeLong reached a new milestone with the launch of the Agricultural Maritime Export Facility in Milwaukee. This is the first of its kind on the Great Lakes. The cutting-edge facility can load full vessels of feedstuffs at a rate of up to 10,000 metric tons per day. This is dramatically expanding global trade opportunities for Wisconsin agriculture. DeLong’s export reach spans Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Shipments include soybeans, corn, wheat, and other essential agricultural commodities.
Beyond its commercial achievements, DeLong is a leader in sustainability with its Grown Climate Smart Program. The company empowers farmers to adopt environmentally responsible practices such as reduced tillage and cover cropping, advancing a more sustainable future for agriculture and the planet.
The DeLong Company has also made strategic use of WEDC’s International Market Access Grant program, leveraging state resources to drive forward a variety of impactful projects across Wisconsin.
“Any recognition we receive starts with our people,” says President Chris DeLong. “I’m proud of the hardworking, talented team we have here, across every site and role. Their dedication, problem-solving, and day-in, day-out consistency are what make success possible.”
The other awardees of the 2025 Governor’s Export Achievement Awards included Mercury Marine of Fond du Lac and Hydro-Thermal Corporation of Waukesha.
“Wisconsin’s reputation as a center of global excellence in areas ranging from manufacturing to agriculture to technology depends on innovative businesses like these,” says Sam Rikkers, Deputy Secretary and COO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. “Through their dedication to global markets, they are showcasing the expertise, resilience, and quality that our state offers the world.”
