Our history

Explore the roots of Cargill — 
1865 to present day 

Cargill has a long, rich heritage, starting with W. W. Cargill's first grain storage facility on the American frontier in 1865. The company has grown to become one of the largest, privately-owned businesses, providing food, agricultural, risk management, financial, and industrial products and services around the globe.

• Featured story: Innovation train — How Cargill moved 400,000 bushels of corn 1,300 miles and reinvented an industry.
• View the Cargill Advertising Heritage slide show.
• Download our history summary and list of additional resources.
• Download the Cargill timeline.