Month: June 2021

Epitome Energy crossed a major milestone in early June when the agriculture developer broke escrow, clearing a major hurdle to bring a 42-million bushel crushing facility to the agricultural heartland of Crookston, Minnesota.

“This is extremely gratifying for us,” says Epitome Energy CEO and President Dennis Egan. “It’s been exciting to talk with the people who’ve been part of this journey with us, and tell them of the positive things that are happening.”

The facility in Crookston will be built on a 60-acre plot, with an option for additional acres if needed. When operating, the facility will increase the value of northwest Minnesota soybeans by as much as 20 cents per bushel. Northwest Minnesota – home to one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions – is the ideal site to host this one-of-a-kind facility. Soybean production in northwest Minnesota has grown by more than 300% in the past two decades. Currently, there are approximately 170 million bushels of soybeans currently grown in the Crookston region, over four times what this facility would require for feedstock.

“Crookston really is the perfect location to build this facility,” Egan says.

Following the breaking of escrow, Epitome Energy will soon submit air permits and their EAW to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency within the coming weeks. The project has already received bipartisan approval, along with funding support from both the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation.

With the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly in the rearview mirror, Egan’s team is optimistic about the possibilities ahead for the facility, which aims to contribute nearly $324 million in new economic activity across the 11-county region in northwest Minnesota. According to a feasibility study, the plant would also create 60 direct jobs and have an estimated payroll and benefits of more than $5 million.

“We went through the pandemic, and now there’s this new energy of investors moving forward,” Egan says. “We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback and we’re excited for the opportunities that await us.”

Epitome Energy has also received broad support from key area growers and business leaders. Its Advisory Board is comprised of the following stakeholders: Larry Altringer, Gary Bridgeford, Leon Kremeier, Curt Knutson, Mike Skaug (who also chairs the Ag Innovation Campus board), Ryan Skaug, John Swanson, Gary Wagner, Dave Zavoral, Bill Zurn, and Eric Zurn.

“For Polk County growers like myself, this facility will be a game-changer for generations of producers throughout the region,” says Ryan Skaug, who farms in Beltrami. “The Advisory Board is eager to do everything we can to keep the project moving forward to uplift rural economies in Minnesota.”

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The Crookston Convention and Visitors Bureau met Thursday morning at the Crookston Inn and convention center.  

One of the first items they discussed is a monthly questionnaire on what brings people to Crookston when they stay at the hotels. Each of the hotels asks people what brings them to Crookston when they check in. “A majority have been construction, which is really good and most of that is from construction at American Crystal Sugar,” said Crookston CVB board chair Nell DeBoer. “The past month has been a lot of family reunions and get-togethers, traveling through town, followed by funerals.  A lot of business travel and UMC Commencement was on there a few times.  It helps us with targeting groups and marketing to groups.  It is always interesting to see what brings people to town.”

The Crookston Visitor Guides have been a popular item, including in the Duluth tourism center. “We actually sent 600 more visitor guides to the Duluth Visitors Center,” said DeBoer. “We sent them 100 and they already ran out and we are pretty excited about that.”

The new Crookston CVB website, https://www.crookstoncvb.com, has been released and is full of great information. “We are rolling out the website and giving away a Minneshlagen game that has a CVB logo on it,” said DeBoer. “Check out our social media and our website for a chance to win the Minneshlagen game.”
The CVB website has also been tied to the Riverland site, Pine to Prairie, City of Crookston, and Minnesota Tourism website.

The other big item that was discussed was the new entrance signs on Highway 2 on the north end of town and on Highway 75 on the south end of Crookston. “MnDOT made some recommendations on what we should do with beautification on the north end and you are starting to see construction going up and within two weeks you will see a sign up,” said DeBoer. “We will have landscaping up and we hope to have it up by July 4.  We have had help from the City of Crookston, CHEDA, the landscapers, and Travis Oliver and the Crookston High School Construction trades class.”

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The University of Minnesota Crookston Campus has hired four new employees.  Information on the four hires is below –

Griffin Gillespie has been hired as the new Director of Human Resources at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Gillespie, a native of Park River and resident of Grand Forks, spent his last five years at Altru Health System as the Supervisor of Recruitment/Talent Specialist/Provider Recruiter.
The Human Resource Director reports to the Chancellor and is responsible to direct, coordinate, and supervise human resource functions/activities affecting Civil Service, AFSCME-Technical, AFSCME-Clerical, and Teamster employees. Gillespie will oversee employment functions including recruiting, hiring, orientation of new employees, reassignment, and performance appraisals and serve as internal consultant/resource to employing units and search committees and will engage in all responsibilities within the employment functions of the University.

Mitchell Berg, Ph.D., Associate Director, Veden Center for Rural Economic Development began his duties this week. Berg held the City Administrator position in Mahnomen for the last five years.
The Veden Center continues to focus on rural America post COVID-19, bridging urban and rural business opportunities, incubation and acceleration services for veterans, new Americans and economically disadvantaged populations and creating new pathways for student success following their higher education experience. 

Jacob Isaacs, Ph.D. joins the Crookston campus as the new Director of Student Success and Academic Advising.  Prior to his arrival last week Isaacs was the Assistant Director of Student Life Residential Education Research and Communication at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
UMC reimagined its Student Success Center in 2019 by bringing together academic advising, multicultural education, career services, and tutoring support into a single, integrated Center.  The goal is to focus on the whole student, leverage students’ strengths, and place equity and belonging at the heart of student success.  It was this approach that led to recognition of UMC’s work by the Center for First-Generation College Student Success.

Kirby Newhouse, Director of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) begins her role next week. Newhouse joins the University of Minnesota Crookston after twelve years at the Upper Valley Special Education Unit, as a Speech Pathologist.
As the Director of the DRC, Newhouse will provide direction and supervision for the Disability Resource Center and contribute to creating a vibrant campus community characterized by a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for students with diverse identities with special focus to students with disabilities and learning differences.
The Disability Resource Center provides leadership in the design, development, and implementation of disability services and programs for students.
Promoting an equitable and inclusive learning environment by facilitating reasonable and appropriate accommodations, Newhouse, as the new Director will be reviewing and implementing ADA requirements and access for the physical campus, empowering students to become self-advocates, and educating the campus community.

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June 11-13 is Take a Kid Fishing weekend in Minnesota.  Minnesotans 16 or older who take a child 15 or younger fishing don’t need a license on this special weekend.  Some fishing tips are below –

Shore fishing is a great way to enjoy a day at the lake. It’s easier, cheaper and there’s a lot more room and opportunities for great fishing spots.
A good, safe spot to start fishing is on a nearby fishing pier. You can find fishing piers on lakes and in many parks throughout Minnesota.
If you’re going to fish from shore, you’ll likely have to explore a bit to find the fish. Fish tend to stay in one spot so you have to move and cast along the shoreline to find them.

Spring is the best season to catch fish due to the fish being hungry after the long winter, being more active due to warmer waters, and laying their eggs near shore. As soon as the ice has melted off the lakes, sunfish and crappies are great species to seek.

Summer shore fishing is a little more difficult due to thick near shore vegetation and fish moving to deeper, cooler waters away from shore. Try fishing in the early morning or evening as well as river fishing since rivers tend to have cooler waters and less vegetation.

Fall is another great time to fish due to cooling water temperatures, vegetation die-offs and fish aggressively feeding to prepare for winter.

Get started today

Below you’ll find links to help you get kids – and yourself – hooked on fishing.

• Fishing basics
• Find the water
• Get help
• Learn to fish

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