At GEAPS Exchange 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, Jason Shipley, president of Midwest Custom Engineering Inc., discussed his docu-series Made in America: Reawakened and its mission to spotlight the often-overlooked world of commercial agriculture.
What began as a personal effort to explain his work as a custom builder of industrial manufacturing equipment evolved into a passion project highlighting the full farm-to-table story — from grain production and storage to feed and food processing.
Shipley shared how the series features American manufacturers such as Insta-Pro International, showcasing equipment production and soybean processing. He also addressed key industry themes, including tariffs, innovation and America’s global leadership in agricultural productivity.
Transcript of interview with Jason Shipley, president of Midwest Custom Engineering:
Elise Schafer, editor, Feed & Grain: Hi everyone, it’s Elise Schafer, editor of Feed & Grain. Today I’m at GEAPS Exchange 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. I’m here talking with industry leaders, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of products and services for the commercial grain handling industry.
Jason, can you start by telling me your name, your title and your company?
Jason Shipley, president, Midwest Custom Engineering Inc.:
I’m Jason Shipley, president of Midwest Custom Engineering Inc.
Schafer: All right. Now, Jason, you're also the host of a docu-series, Made in America Reawakened. Can you tell me about the show and the kind of companies that you feature on it?
Shipley: Yeah, so Made in America Reawakened is really about the farm-to-table story and about American manufacturing. So, what we like to do is feature an American manufacturer, and then we show how that equipment is being used in the feed and food manufacturing industries.
Schafer: So, what compelled you to tell the untold story of commercial grain handling with viewers and the American public?
Shipley: You know, to be real honest, it was more of a selfish reason because most people, I couldn't even explain to them what I did. My friends and family didn't even know what I did, so I was like, "You know what, let me just show you!" Because it's so much easier to show you than actually try to explain to you what I do.
So once I started on it, it really became a passion project because it allowed me to start telling the story in a compelling way and then people started becoming more interested in what I do. So, it's a wonderful way to tell the story in a compelling manner that allows us to actually show what happens from start to finish.
Schafer: Can you tell me a little bit about one of the guests that you've had and their operations?
Shipley: Yeah, so our very first episode was Insta-Pro International, and we went in and showed how they manufacture extruders from start to finish, and the entire process of the American soybean. And that was really cool to show how it's grown, and then how it's actually processed start to finish into oil and soybean meal.
Schafer: So what are the biggest agricultural trends impacting your guests on the show?
Shipley: You know there's a lot of trends happening right now, but I think tariffs have been a big talk right now, both for equipment and for grains and commodities in general.
But overall, I think America knows how to dominate in a lot of fields and people don't realize how amazing we are when it comes to the amount of food or feed grown per acre. Nobody can beat us.
We're always coming up with new technologies, we're coming up with better and more innovative ways, and people around the world respect that. They come to America to study us, so it's time to start sharing that knowledge and start just showing how we dominate.
Schafer: Now, can you give us a glimpse into some topics or some themes that you'll be covering in upcoming episodes?
Shipley: Yeah, so we're going to be featuring a couple of feed mills in the center of the country, and then we're also looking for other manufacturers. So, if you know anybody that would be a good fit for our show, then we would love to have them.
I would say, you know, we're going to be talking about everything from start to finish. So all the way from how the grain is collected and stored, all the way through to processing and how it gets into the grocery store.
Schafer: Great. Well, thank you so much for talking with me today, Jason!
Shipley: My pleasure. Thank you.
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