Atlantic, Iowa – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in Atlantic, Monday morning, as part of a tour of certain ag-related facilities around the State. In Atlantic, Secretary Rollins toured the Elite Octane ethanol production plant. She was joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, 3rd District Representative Zach Nunn, southeast Iowa 1st District Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

Earlier this month (March), Elite Octane – which employs 53 people – announced they had produced their one-billionth gallon of ethanol. Three-years ago (2022), the company doubled its storage capacity from four million bushels to eight million bushels of corn. The plant uses 50% recycled water from the City of Atlantic’s wastewater treatment plant, as part of the cooling process in the production of ethanol. The plant handles approximately 200 semi-loads of corn daily, operates Monday through Friday, and receives around one million bushels weekly. In addition to ethanol, Elite Octane in Atlantic produces high protein animal feed and corn oil.

Rollins, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas, along with her husband and children, was sworn-in as 33rd U-S Ag Secretary in February, 2025. The U.S. Senate confirmed Rollins by a vote of 72-to-28. Most recently, Rollins served as the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). During President Trump’s first administration, she was the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives in the White House.

During her address, Secretary Rollins announced the USDA is releasing the funding for the higher blends infrastructure incentive program.

From Atlantic, Secretary Rollins and some of the other dignitaries moved-on to Manning Farm in Waukee. She toured Beck’s Hybrid in Colfax, and was set to deliver the keynote address to Iowa Ag leaders at the FFA Enrichment Center, in Ankeny.