New Book Chronicles Story of Great Western Sugar Company

An important contribution to the colorful saga of the U.S. sugarbeet industry has been published.

Footprints in the Sugar: A History of the Great Western Sugar Company traces the story of one of this industry major players. The 848-page volume — which includes hundreds of photos — was authored by Candy Hamilton.

Footprints in the Sugar traces the rich story of Great Western from its humble beginnings more than a century ago, through its growth into a major beet processor with eventually more than two dozen factories in the beet districts of Colorado, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming (plus Ohio and Kansas). The book also chronicles Great Western’s later struggles — including the period when it was owned by the Hunt brothers, who took the once-proud company into bankruptcy during the mid-1980s.

Tate & Lyle purchased Great Western and reopened six of the factories in 1986 under the banner of Western Sugar Company. About 15 years later, growers in the four western states formed a cooperative and purchased these factories. Today, the Western Sugar Cooperative operates four remaining factories (Billings, Fort Morgan, Lovell and Scottsbluff).

Footprints in the Sugar address other important industry players, too — including the German-Russian families so closely identified with sugarbeet production in the West; the Mexican (and Japanese) migrant worker community; and the role of World War II German prisoners of war. Among the book’s chapters are:

• Origin and Evolution of Sugar

• Emergence of the Colorado Beet Sugar Industry

• Great Western Sugar Company Pioneers

• The Company: From Humble Beginnings to Dominance

• German-Russians: Their Journey to America

• Los Betabeleros (The Beetworkers): Foreigners in Their Own Land

• World War II Prisoners of War in Colorado: The Unspoken History

• From Expertise to Ineptness: Ownership Root of Demise

• All That Remains: Historical Review and Status of Sites

• Sugar Tramps: Backbone of the Company

Persons interested in ordering one or more copies the 8-1/2 x 11-inch hardbound Footprints in the Sugar can do so by contacting Hamilton Bates Publishers, 251 W. Idaho Avenue #14, Ontario, OR 97914. The cost per copy is $79.95, plus $9.95 for shipping and handling. Payment is by check only.

More information on Footprints in the Sugar, along with ordering details, also is available on the publisher’s website: www.gwsfootprints.com.