The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), named The Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) of Benson, Minn., its 2017 Ag Innovator of the Year. The award, which has been given annually for the past 15 years, will be accepted by CVEC Board Chair, David Thompson and General Manager Chad Friese at the company’s Board meeting on Monday, November 20, in Benson.
Each year, the AURI Board of Directors bestows the Ag Innovator of the Year Award, the organization’s highest honor, on a client company or entrepreneur it feels has made a substantial impact in the areas of product innovation, uniqueness and commercialization potential. This year’s award is the culmination of 20 years of cooperative work between AURI and CVEC.
“There were a number of contenders for this year’s award, but the Board of Directors felt CVEC’s many accomplishments and innovations in the ethanol industry best fit the criteria,” said AURI Executive Director, Shannon Schlecht. “CVEC contributes to Minnesota’s economy by purchasing more than 18 million bushels of corn from local farmers and has a capacity to produce tens of millions of gallons of ethanol annually, and is notable in its constant exploration of innovative changes to its products and processes to add value for its members.”
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