March 11th, 2016

Minnesotan Larry McNamara Takes Over as President of American Sugarbeet Growers / By Jim Jones — “Today’s farmers — and certainly sugarbeet growers — cannot afford to be isolated from the rest of the legislative or economic world as far as Larry McNamara, recently elected president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, is concerned.

“ ‘Our business today is not totally on the farm,’ he be-lieves.  ‘We also need to know there are people directing our future, and rather than allowing someone to dic-tate to you, you should have some
input to that.’

“The association’s new president has been operating a farm south of Bird Island, Minn., since 1954 when we returned home from army service in Korea.  He’s been growing beets since 1968 and now plants 500 acres for Southern Minnesota Sugar Cooperative as part of an extensive farming operation that produces corn, soybeans, wheat and certified seed. 

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“McNamara served terms as the association’s first and second vice president prior to attaining the presidency during the annual convention in San Diego last January. . . . He succeeds Joe Alles of Billings, Mont., who now becomes past president of the association.  Elected also at the convention were Bill Cleavinger, Wildorado, Texas, first vice president; Patrick D. Mahar, Cavalier, N.D., second vice president; and P.T. Rathbone, Marsing, Idaho, treasurer.”

Fischer, McGinnis Named as ‘Sugar Man of the Year’ -- “Richard A McGinnis and James H. Fischer received the industry’s most coveted prize, the Dyer Memo-rial Award as ‘Sugar Man of the Year — 1985,’ at The Club on the 107th floor of New York’s World Trade Center.

“This significant departure from a single to a dual winner was considered because these two gentlemen have been such an integral force in the beet sugar industry for more than a quarter of a century. . . . 

“The citation awarded to the winners of Dyer’s 28th annual prize reads: ‘The common denominator of two out-standing sugar men — Dr. Richard A. McGinnis and James H. Fischer — is their fruitful work for the Beet Sugar Development Foundation and their creating its celebrated offspring, the Beet Sugar Institute.’

“The Beet Sugar Development Foundation was formed in 1945, supported by contributions from its beet sugar company members.  Mr. Fischer joined the foundation in 1947 and soon thereafter became its secretary-treasurer and was appointed manager.  Dr. McGinnis joined the organization in 1968 as a consultant.”

Western Seeks Two More Plants -- “Denver-based Western Sugar Co. said it wants to buy two idled Great Western Sugar Co. plants in Fort Morgan and Greeley. If the purchase is approved Western Sugar said it would sign contracts with Colorado farmers in time for them to plant sugarbeets in late March or early to mid-April.

“Western Sugar made its bid for an undisclosed price for the two Colorado plants plus plant equipment and agricultural equipment from a Goodland, Kansas, factory, said spokesman Jack Fulton. . . .

​“Western Sugar is a subsidiary of Refined Sugars Inc. of Yonkers, New York, which is owned by Red Path Industries Ltd. Of Toronto and Tate & Lyle Plc of London. Tate & Lyle formed Western Sugar after it bought six former Great Western plants for $21.5 million in Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming last March.

​“Great Western put the factories up for sale more than a [year] ago and has talked with numerous potential buyers, including growers and corporate entities. . . . In addition [to] the Fort Morgan, Greeley and Goodland plants, there are factories in Loveland, Sterling and Ovid.”

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