Around The Industry: January 2012

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Green New Crystal Chairman, Williams Elected Vice Chairman
    Robert Green of St. Thomas, N.D., was elected chairman of American Crystal Sugar Company at the December 1 board reorganization meeting following the cooperative’s annual meeting.  A Crystal director since 2005 representing the Drayton district, Green has been a sugarbeet grower since 1976.  He also serves as a director for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and was a director of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association for 12 years. 

Steve Williams was elected Crystal’s vice chairman at the same meeting. Williams, who has been a Crystal director since 2006, has farmed near Fisher, Minn., since 1987.  He serves on the board of directors of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and was ASGA’s president from 2006 to 2008.  A director of The Sugar Association, Williams served as a director of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association from 1998 to 2007 and was that group’s president from 2003 to 2007.
    Green and Williams replaced, respectively, Neil Widner of Stephen, Minn., and Curt Haugen of Argyle, Minn.  Widner and Haugen remain on the American Crystal board.

Retiring Caspers Inducted into Minn-Dak Hall of Fame
    Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative inducted retiring Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Minn-Dak Yeast Company President Steve Caspers into the co-op’s Hall of Fame at its early December annual meeting.  The award honors a person who has made significant contributions to Minn-Dak and the sugar industry in general.
    Caspers, who retired in December after 37 years of service, began his career with Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative in 1974 as an accounting supervisor.  He then served as controller from 1977 to 1985.             
    Caspers was appointed as Minn-Dak’s executive vice president and chief financial officer in 1985 and then became president of Minn-Dak Yeast Company in 1994.  He also served as the co-op’s interim president and chief executive officer in 2000 and 2001.
    Richard J. Kasper has been hired as Minn-Dak vice president and chief financial officer.  Kasper was previously president and chief operations officer for Global Electric Motorcars by Polaris, Fargo, N.D.  Prior to joining GEM, he spent 11 years with the Jack Kent Cooke Organization, which included responsibilities as CFO for the Los Angeles Daily News.
    Kasper holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Minnesota State University-Moorhead and is a member of the MSUM School of Business Advisory Board.
    Minn-Dak directors Brent Davison, Tintah, Minn., Dale Blume, Norcross, Minn., and Pat Freese, Kent, Minn., were re-elected by their district shareholders at the co-op’s annual meeting.
    Co-op officers, elected by the full board of directors, are: Doug Etten, Dalton, Minn., chairman; Brent Davison, vice-chairman; Chuck Steiner, Foxhome, Minn., secretary; and Dennis Butenhoff, Barnesville, Minn., treasurer.

Michigan/Ontario Research Reporting Session Is Jan. 26
    The 2012 Michigan/Ontario Sugarbeet Research Reporting Session is scheduled for January 26 at the Doubletree Hotel Riverfront in Bay City.  This sixth annual reporting session will cover current sugarbeet research being conducted in the Great Lakes region.  The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Meal reservations are required.
    For more information in the 2012 research reporting session, contact Steve Poindexter, Michigan State University Extension, Saginaw, at (989) 758-2500.

50th International Sugarbeet Institute Set for March 14 & 15
    The 2012 International Sugarbeet Institute is scheduled for March 14 and 15 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.  This year’s event marks the 50th anniversary of ISBI, which is the largest sugarbeet industry trade show in North America.  Attendance at the 2011 event totaled more than 3,200.
    Companies desiring exhibiting information for the 2012 International Sugarbeet Institute can contact exhibits coordinator Bob Cournia at (218) 281-4681.  Other ISBI-related inquiries should be directed to Dr. Mohamed Khan, organizing committee chairman, at (701) 231-8596.