The original Big River Resources Cooperative Board of Directors.
The team which planted, watered, and fertilized the original seed.
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July, 1992
“The Seed is Planted” when regional farmers attend an ethanol seminar at
Peoria, IL. The seminar was called “Give Them An Ear Full”.
Summer 2000
The “Seed is Watered” when low corn prices spark a need to find a value-added
project. A group of farmers, including Andy Brader, toured an ethanol
plant.
November, 2000
Raymond E. Defenbaugh of Biggsville, Illinois and Andy Brader of Mediapolis,
IA lead regional Illinois and Iowa farmers. They toured ethanol plants
and investigated ethanol and dried distiller grain production as a possible
value-added project.
March, 2001
Luncheon meeting held in Monmouth, Illinois to measure farmer interest in
investing in an ethanol plant as a value added venture. The meeting
hall was filled to capacity with much enthusiasm expressed by a large group
of farmers.
April, 2001
The “Seed begins to Grow,” when a coop organization meeting was held at Kirkwood,
Illinois Township Hall. A sixteen (16) member board was selected, the
mission statement chosen, coop name given, and officers elected as follows;
Co-chairman-Andy Brader and Raymond E. Defenbaugh; Secretary- Richard Siegle;
Treasurer-Leslie G. Allen.
May, 2001
The first private money was donated by a personal check to establish legitimacy
with the ordinance plant. Deborah Green designs Big River Resources
logos.
June 27, 2001
Big River Resources Cooperative hires BBI to complete a feasibility study
for building an ethanol plant in southeast Iowa or west-central Illinois.
July, 2001
The Illinois Corn marketing Board grants $20,000 to BRRC to conduct a feasibility
study.
November 2001
BBI works on completing a business plan. Each of the 16 directors
contributes $1,000 as a non-refundable at risk membership fee to continue
plans for an ethanol facility.
January 3, 2002
Fagen, Inc is chosen as the contractor utilizing ICM technology.
January 15, 2002
Articles of Incorporation adopted for Big River Resources Cooperative.
January 18, 2002
West Burlington, IA is chosen as the location.
February, 2002
The “Seed begins to Grow Rapidly” as the first capital fund raising meeting
is at Monmouth, Illinois followed by a second meeting at West Burlington,
Iowa. The board is reduced to 14 members.
March 2002
The ethanol project receives a 20-year tax exemption from Des Moines County
and tax incentives from Iowa Department of Economic Development to encourage
plant location in Iowa. The capital fund raising drive continues.
Nov. 8, 2002, Groundbreaking
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With the sound of earth moving equipment in
the background, over 200 individuals from Iowa,
Illinois, Minnesota, and S. Dakota were present for the ground breaking
event. Representatives from agricultural organizations and local/state agencies
were present along with investors and interested
public. Since breaking ground, the plant site has been an active place. The
weather has been cooperative and much work is being accomplished.
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Dec. 5, 2002
As of 12-05-02, Phase I is 90% completed.
This includes –
- 1 drilled well
- Topsoil has been removed
and stockpiled at two locations
- The fill dirt on the grain
handling building is complete and up to elevation
- The dirt work is completed
for the process building (main building)
- The roads are 85% complete
which includes rock
- The dirt work for the railroad
spur is 45% complete
- The storm pond for rain
water is 50% complete
- Trenching around the project
is 60% complete
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Weather permitting, Phase I should be completed
in the next week or so. Currently, the project is 2
days ahead of schedule. Phase II will begin and
consist of foundation and concrete
work.
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Photo of Well drilling crew taken the
day of Ground Breaking
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February, 2003
Escrow is broken. The cooperative gives Fagen, Inc notice to proceed
with February as official construction start date and June 21, 2004 as official
completion date.
February 28, 2003
Big River Resources, LLC (BRR, LLC) is officially formed.
March, 2003
Big River Resources, LLC elects a seventeen (17) member board to serve with
the following officers; Raymond E. Defenbaugh, President, CEO, Chairman;
Andy Brader, Vice-President; Les Allen, Treasurer; Matt Dutton, Secretary.
June 13, 2003
East Entrance
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This is a photo of the site from the south
looking north. In the foreground is the administration building (A)
which will have the offices, meeting rooms and the double truck scales office.
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B is where the ethanol
will be produced. The following photos will give a clearer picture
of what is located in this area.
C is where the electrical substation will be located.
D are the temporary Fagen, Inc.
offices.
E is where the holding facility for the distiller's dried grains
with solubles.
F is the location of the double truck scales
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June has been a month of
transformations. The beginning of June, the landscape was still flat. By
the middle of June, the tall structures were
mostly in place. The above pictures show a rectifier column being erected.
The shorter columns behind the rectifiers are the evaporators. Now that the
tall columns are in place, the structural steel can be brought
in for further construction.
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G are the evaporators.
H are the rectifiers.
I are the two ICM dryers which will dry the wet solids into
distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS).
J are where the fermentation tanks will
be located.
K is one of two wet stillage/syrup holding tanks.
L is the wet cake facility. The DDGS leave the
dryer on a conveyor belt and are deposited in this holding facility.
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Another view where
more of the wet cake facility is shown.
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This is the DDGS
building. The structural steel will be arriving mid-June with approximate
completion date scheduled for July 30th.
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October 28, 2003
Deborah Green is hired as the first full time employee
of BRR, LLC. Her duties as Assistant Controller/Office Manager began
out of her home.
November, 2003
The Federal Economic Development Administration grants
Big River Resources $500,000 for paving of the road connecting the plant
to Beaverdale Road.
December 1, 2003
Big River Resources moves the corporate offices from
Monmouth, Illinois to West Burlington, Iowa.
December 31, 2003
The capital equity drive is closed for Big River Resources
Cooperative. The equity drive closed with 611 members.
January 2004
General Manager is employed full time.
The coop board size is reduced to 13.
The capital equity drive is closed for Big River Resources, LLC.
February 12, 2004
The first Big River Resources Cooperative annual meeting
is held at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.
March 1, 2004
The entire staff began six (6) weeks of training.
April 7, 2004
The “Seed Matures” as the ribbon-cutting ceremony is
held. The first ceremonial loads of corn are received at plant.
To show the unity between the two states, a load of corn from Illinois and
one from Iowa are weighed and dumped simultaneously.
April 12, 2004
The plant begins to officially grind corn, ten (10)
weeks ahead of schedule.
April 22, 2004
First delivery of ethanol sold to Riverland FS, an
investor in the plant, for sale out of Monmouth and Roseville, Illinois service
stations.
May 6, 2004
First barge load of DDG loaded out of Burlington River
Terminal for delivery to Ireland.
May 7, 2004
First rail cars of ethanol loaded and shipped to California.
May 12, 2004
First income from sale of ethanol and DDG are received.
February 2005
Second Annual Cooperative Meeting held at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.
September 1, 2005
Purchased Monmouth Grain & Dryer Grain Elevator in Monmouth, IL.
December 2005
Began Mini Upgrade of West Burlington Ethanol Plant.
February 4, 2006
Third annual cooperative meeting held at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.
July 2006- - - - - -
The holding company was officially formed. The holding company was name Big River Resources, LLC
with the West Burlington ethanol facility renamed to Big River Resources West Burlington, LLC.
September 2006- - - - - -
The additional grain storage bins were completed and grain was dumped into them for the first time.
October 5, 2007- - - - - -
Big River Resources West Burlington, LLC receives the Manufacturer of the Year award by the Burlington/West Burlington Chamber of Commerce and its economic development division, Grow Greater Burlington.
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