Top Stories

• Sidney Lee Crowned Sand Hills Saddle Club Princess
  (7/22/06)
  

  On July 22, 2006, Sidney Lee Schonhoff was crowned the Sand Hills Saddle Club princess at the Hankinson Sand Hills Rodeo. Sidney is the daughter of Bill Schonhoff, who operates the scrap loading at Hoving, N.D.

   

• North Dakota's Largest Ethanol Plant to be Built near Hankinson
  (4/15/06)
  

  BROOKINGS, SD (March 15, 2006)- North Dakota’s largest ethanol plant will be built near Hankinson, ND, contingent on zoning, permitting and tax incentives, US BioEnergy intends to construct a 100 million gallon per year (mgy) ethanol plant on this site.  A plant this size will consume approximately 37 million bushels of corn and will produce 320,000 tons of distillers grain annually.

  Gold Energy, LLC (“Gold Energy”) has partnered with US BioEnergy Corporation (“US BioEnergy”), a South Dakota based company that has several projects underway.  Terry Goerger, Gold Energy Member stated, “By partnering with US BioEnergy, we are joining a team of ethanol experts that can get our plant out of the ground quickly.  Once we’re operational, there will be a local board with representatives from this area offering leadership to this plant.  We like that about this Company; they have Midwest roots just as we do and they know how to get a plant up and running.”

  CHS, one of the nation’s leading energy grain-based food and supply company, is a 24% owner of US BioEnergy.  CHS’s President and Chief Executive Officer John Johnson said, “The entry into the North Dakota renewable fuels manufacturing sector is a positive step for CHS members and customers, particularly given our long history as an energy supplier in the state.”

  North Dakota Governor John Hoeven stated, “We have put good programs in place and worked diligently with the Gold Energy Board and US BioEnergy to develop this plant in North Dakota.  It will have a big impact on Hankinson and southeastern part of our state, both in more revenues for our farmers and good jobs in rural North Dakota.  This ethanol plant will be the third one under construction, along with a biodiesel plant, and we are working on more.”

  Randy Schneider, Gold Energy Member said, “The community of Hankinson and the state of North Dakota have supported this project from day one and we are anxious to see everyone’s hard work pay off and get a plant out of the ground.”  Gordon Ommen, CEO of US BioEnergy stated, “A plant like this will bring millions of dollars into this community as well as high paying jobs.  That’s what is great about this industry; it’s revitalizing the Midwest by offering opportunities for our young people to stay close to home, it’s bringing money into our small towns and it’s benefiting our farmers by increasing the demand for their corn.”

  US BioEnergy currently has the following projects under way:  US Bio Albert City, IA, a 110 mgy plant that will be on-line in October of 2006; US Bio Woodbury, MI, a 50 mgy plant that will be up and running in September of 2006; US Bio Janesville, MN, a 110 mgy plant in the permitting stage with construction slated to begin fall of 2006.  US BioEnergy has also entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire Platte Valley Fuel Ethanol (“Platte Valley”), near Central City, NE and to be a majority owner of Val-E Ethanol near Ord, NE.  This will take US BioEnergy to a 250 mgy producer by the end of 2006.

  About US BioEnergy Corporation

  US BioEnergy Corporation is a Brookings, SD based company that is building large, efficient biofuel plants on strategic sites, partnering with local farmers and communities to provide renewable fuels to America.

Westgate facility at Oakes Loads first shuttle train on April 24
(4/24/04)



• Plans announced for New 110-car Shuttle Facility at Casselton

  A new grain and agronomy partnership is set to serve farmers in southeast North Dakota beginning later this spring.  Maple River Grain and Agronomy, LLC, a joint venture between three companies, Chaffee-Lynchburg Farmers Elevator, Prosper Farmers Cooperative Elevator, and AGP Grain, LTD., will begin operations on June 1, 2004.  A major highlight of the partnership is an expansion project to the elevator and rail siding at Casselton, ND, which will upgrade the facility to load 110-car shuttle trains on Red River Valley & Western Railroad, a short line partner of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

  Maple River Grain and Agronomy, LLC, includes the grain and agronomy facilities at Casselton, Chaffee, Lynchburg, Prosper and Leonard.  Management personnel are Sid Mauch, General Manager; Mark Dooley, Assistant Manager and Agronomy Manager; and Scott Althoff, Grain Manager.

  Tom Roden, President of the Board of Governors, and Mike Knobbe, Group Vice President-Grain, AGP both concur "We're excited about the opportunities this new joint venture brings to farmers and our partners.  Grain producers will benefit from expanded access to destination markets across the United States, Mexico and Canada with the shuttle terminal."

Other News

• Scholarship Awards
  

  The Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company awarded eight scholarships to college-bound children of railroad employees.  This year the RRV&W awarded scholarships to Pamela Douglas, Samantha Evans, Amanda Olson, Matthew Kruize, Philicia Douglas, Krystal Olson, Joshua Beilke and Jack Anderson, Jr.

  Pamela Douglas was a 2001 graduate of Underwood Public School and the daughter of Phil and Patricia Douglas.  Pamela received a $500 scholarship to further her education at MSCT College in Fergus Falls, MN.  Pamela majored in Phlebotomy.

  Samantha Evans is a 2006 graduate of Carrington High School and the daughter Wayne and Kay Evans.  Samantha received a $1,000 scholarship to further her education at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.  Samantha will major in Nursing.

  Amanda Olson is a 2006 graduate of Wahpeton Senior High School and the daughter of Mike and Carol Olson.  Amanda received a $1,000 scholarship to further her education at North Dakota State University in Fargo.  Amanda will major in Zoology.

  Matthew Kruize is a 2006 graduate of Wahpeton Senior High School and the son of Carol and the late Steve Kruize.  Matthew received a $1,000 scholarship to further his education at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.  Matthew will major in Business.

  Philicia Douglas is a 2006 graduate of Underwood High School and the daughter of Phil and Patricia Douglas.  Philicia received a $1,000 scholarship to further her education at Evangel University in Springfield, MO.  Philicia will major in History.

  Krystal Olson is a 2006 graduate of Richland 44 and the daughter of Bryan and Cynthia Olson.  Krystal received a $1,000 scholarship to further her education at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.  Krystal will major in Nursing.

  Joshua Beilke is a 2006 graduate of Fargo South High School and the son of Dean and JoAnn Beilke, and Myrna and Vern Hoekstra.  Joshua received a $1,000 scholarship to further his education at Moorhead State University.  Joshua will major in Political Science and History.

  Jack Anderson, Jr. is a 2006 graduate of Shakopee Senior High and the son of Jack and Kathie Anderson.  Jack Jr. received a $1,000 scholarship to further his education at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.  Jack will major in Computer Engineering.

  The Red River Valley & Western is a short line railroad headquartered in Wahpeton with operating offices in Breckenridge, Kindred, LaMoure and Carrington. The RRV&W serves agricultural customers, processors, and manufacturers in southeast and central North Dakota, and Breckenridge, Minnesota.  The company has awarded scholarships to 51 children of railroad employees since the program’s inception in 1995.

• Foertsch on Honor Roll
  Kris Foertsch, dispatcher in Breckenridge, has been named to the Aakers College A honor roll.  Kris is enrolled in the Criminal Justice program.

2005 Scholarships
Click HERE for a summary of 2005 scholarship awards.