ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC is the winner of the 2020 Kansas Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, the top export business award presented by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Creekstone was one of five finalists for the award.

“Creekstone Farms is an impressive Kansas company, whose beef can be found in nearly every corner of the world,” Kelly said.

Exporting has been an important part of the Creekstone model since the company’s founding in 1995, but its reputation has become even stronger in recent years as growing economies around the world have demanded more premium beef, said Alfonso Terrazas, director of international sales.

“We are now exporting to 71 countries, with strong brand recognition in Europe and Asia. We were the first black angus beef program sold into the European Union and in China and we continue to establish new markets for premium beef in Mexico, Central and South America. Customers worldwide are demanding higher quality US beef, and Creekstone Farms is at the top of their list.”

While international markets have always been a focus for Creekstone, export sales played an even larger role in the company’s stability throughout the challenges the industry experienced in 2020.

“We have been able to weather the storm of COVID-19 and protect our essential team members thanks in part to export activities” said Keizo Kada, president and CEO of Creekstone Farms. “The beef industry faced many challenges this year, but we are proud of the fact that our facility in Kansas never had an outbreak or closed due to the pandemic."