The History of Chickasha of Georgia
In 1990, Chickasha Cotton Oil Company, based in Chandler, Arizona was considering various ways to diversify.
With cottonseed crushing plants in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, and several gins and a cotton production
financing business in Arizona, Chickasha had a strong market presence where they chose to compete.
Diversification could take two forms; either diversifying into new businesses, or geographical diversification
in one or more of the core businesses. After much consideration, it was decided that geographical
diversification in the cottonseed crush business was the avenue of choice. Chickasha targeted the
southeastern United States as being the optimum area in which to expand. Cotton production was
increasing in the Southeast. There was little existing cottonseed crush capacity in the Southeast.
This appeared to be a strong opportunity for Chickasha.
While Chickasha was considering expansion into the Southeast, a group of far-sighted Georgia cotton ginners
could see a huge potential problem on the horizon. Cotton production was definitely increasing, and with it,
the production of cottonseed. The traditional market for Georgia cottonseed, the Florida-Georgia dairy market,
had a demand that was, at best, stable. The increasing supply of cottonseed, coupled with a steady demand,
would result in decreasing prices, unless some action was taken. These Georgia ginners formed an association
known as Quality Cottonseed, Incorporated. The purpose of this organization was to develop methods to support
and enhance the value of cottonseed in their market area.
These two groups, Chickasha Cotton Oil Company and Quality Cottonseed, began discussions. In the end it was
agreed that CCOC would market the cottonseed produced by QCI gins. By marketing the QCI produced cottonseed
in an orderly manner, cottonseed prices would be stabilized. This began in 1991. CCOC also agreed to
investigate the feasibility of constructing a cottonseed oil mill. A cottonseed oil mill would support the
cottonseed market in two ways; the value-added products produced by the oil mill was predicted to produce
an attractive revenue stream, and the cottonseed crushed would reduce the supply pressure on the whole cottonseed
market, thereby supporting cottonseed prices to some degree.
The marketing of QCI cottonseed by Chickasha was successful beyond all expectations. The feasibility study
was very favorable. A partnership between CCOC and QCI was created in 1994. This partnership is known
as Chickasha of Georgia. QCI committed the cottonseed production of their member gins for an extended
period of time. CCOC committed to undertake the role as managing partner. Chickasha of Georgia has
the stated objective of enhancing the value of cottonseed in the Southeast. This will be accomplished
by the orderly marketing of whole cottonseed and the conversion of cottonseed into value-added products
through cottonseed crushing. In December, 1994, ground was broken for the first new cottonseed oil
mill in the Southeast in over 50 years. This oil mill, located in Tifton, Georgia has an initial
capacity of 400 tons per day and came on line in February, 1996.
In 2003 the ginning partners purchased CCOC’s one-half interest and formed Chickasha of Georgia, LLC.
During this time we have added products to address the feed demand for whole cottonseed via cottonseed
pellets and delinted cottonseed. Our pelleted and delinted cottonseed products have improved the
handling characteristics associated with whole cottonseed while maintaining the nutritional characteristics
popular with whole fuzzy cottonseed.
Brief Process Description of Cottonseed Crushing
The facility transports cottonseeds from local cotton gins by truck to the receiving area. Material is
eventually transferred to the day bin which meters seed into the beginning of the process. From the day
bin the seeds are sent through a cleaning system known as the "white seed" rock trap. Forced air through
the trap causes loose, lighter particles to separate from the seed and heavier trash such as rocks to fall out.
Seeds passing through the rock trap continue to the seed cleaners. The collected trash is combined with
the material from a motes beater and sent to a safety shaker. This unit segregates the material into forms
suitable for mixing with the meats
Seeds from the cleaners are directed to a series of delinters. After delinting, the seeds enter the hulling
area which removes the hulls. The hullers agitate the seed to split, crack, and remove the hulls exposing
the cottonseed "meat". From this area, acceptable oil rich meats continue on to the flaking operation. The
meats are pressed into flakes which are conveyed to the cooker for final preparation.
The extraction process removes cottonseed oil from the flakes with a hexane-based solvent in a counter-current
extractor. The extracted oil is then refined to remove the free fatty acids.
Cottonseed oil is pumped from final storage tanks to truck or rail loadout. The solids are transported to
the DTDC to reclaim as much hexane as possible. From the desolventizer-toaster dryer/cooler (DTDC) the
defatted cottonseed material is conveyed to a holding bin which meters material into the meal storage
building for screening and grinding.
The oversized meal is screened out and ground before returning to the process. Meal ready for loadout
is sent to an overhead conveyor in the meal storage building which distributes meal into piles, which
are loaded out by truck. Lint bales stored in the linter warehouse are loaded out by truck or rail.
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