trū Shrimp breaks ground on largest shrimp facility in Midwest
By McKenzie Swanson
Balaton Press Tribune
Monday was an exciting day for Ralco, and trū Shrimp owners Brian and Jon Knochenmus and trū Shrimp CEO Michael Ziebell as they officially broke ground to start building the Balaton Bay Reef Training and Engineering Center in Balaton.
Many people turned out for the event, including community members, several governmental dignitaries and representatives, and a considerable number of prominent members from the surrounding area.
The new Balaton Bay reef will be built on the northeast side of the Ralco Technology Campus.
“The building will be 60 feet wide, 200 feet tall, and 40 feet high, making it the largest building in Balaton,” said trū Shrimp CEO Michael Ziebell.
Construction will begin immediately and will continue through the winter.
“We hope to have the building up and operational before June next year, if not sooner,” Ziebell said.
This will be the largest land-based shrimp facility in the Upper Midwest, trū Shrimp said.
The engineering facility will be home to eight 150 foot-long stacked Tidal Basins — structures that are capable of producing 65,000 pounds of shrimp annually. trū Shrimp said it’s the only one of its kind in the world.
“Today is a landmark day,” said Ralco President and trū Shrimp Board Chairman Brian Knochenmus. “It is going to be so rewarding to see the shrimp come out of this community.”
For more on this article, see this week’s Headlight-Herald or Balaton Press Tribune.