By Reed Anfinson

Swift County Monitor-News

Jan Lundebrek, a long-time member of the board of directors of the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC,) was honored in late August for her dedication to the ethanol industry.

Lundebrek was presented with the ACE Grassroots Award by the American Coalition for Ethanol at its annual convention Aug. 24 in Minneapolis. Lundebrek was presented the Grassroots Award by CVEC Board Chair David Thompson.

“Lundebrek’s enthusiastic leadership was instrumental in the formation of the Chippewa Valley Agrafuels Cooperative (CVAC) and CVEC, one of the first ethanol plants in the state of Minnesota,” ACE said of Lundebrek’s contributions. CVEC began producing ethanol in 1996. “Her extensive financial background helped ensure shares were sold to local farmers and loans were secured to build the plant. 

“Her passion and commitment to rural America and the domestic ethanol industry has always been evident by her active participation in every ACE DC fly-in and during ACE’s conferences and board meetings,” it said in presenting the award.

The strength of ACE is found within the collective grassroots, devoted individuals who often perform behind the scenes to advance the cause of ethanol, ACE said of its Grassroots Award. “These ‘unsung heroes’ of the U.S. ethanol industry and agriculture are recognized with the ACE Grassroots Award. 

Today, the plant has the capacity to produce more than 50 million gallons ethanol and has nearly 1,000 cooperative owners. Over the years it has diversified its operations producing industrial trade alcohol as well as alcohol for beverages. It now has investments in five other ethanol companies. It is a founding owner of Renewable Products Marketing Group.

“I am thrilled,” Lundebrek told Cindy Zimmerman of AgWired.com in an interview about receiving the ACE Grassroots Award. “I can’t believe it, but I am so happy that I was privileged to do it. And I am not done. I will keep doing it.

“I believe very much in being fair and I am very much oriented to climate. I want our climate to change, and it will all work if we can keep on like we are.”

Lundebrek said she got involved with ethanol because she was concerned about the environment. “I know that it (ethanol) is a lot better than gasoline,” she said. While gasoline is needed, the world has to gradually move away from it to make the climate better “for the people who come after us.”

Lundebrek used her experience in finances, she was the president of First Security Bank in Benson before retiring in 2015, to make sure that farmers came first in investing in CVEC.

Over the past 30 years, Lundebrek said she has maybe only missed two trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby for farmers and the ethanol industry. “I love speaking to the representatives and telling them how important it is that the people in outstate Minnesota and in agriculture get fair breaks,” she said.

Support for ethanol and its expanded use in America has been due to the work of “many, many people” over the years, Lundebrek said.

There is a promising future for ethanol, Lundebrek said, “but that doesn’t mean we can let up.”  The goal of the oil industry is to keep making lots of money, so those who are supporting the use of ethanol have to keep working, she said.

“We just have to take care of life and take care of our country,” Lundebrek told Zimmerman. 

Lundebrek also served on the ACE board of directors for many years. She recently stepped down allowing CVEC Board Member Harmon Wilts to take her seat.

“I just want to thank everyone for stepping up when it counts,” Lundebrek said of receiving the award. “It’s not just me – it’s the work of the rural communities, ACE and the individuals that really make a difference. I’m proud of the work I have done and to be able to receive this award, but I am more pleased with the way others have done the work and advocated to get the industry to where it is today.”

Lundebrek has been involved in many areas working to improve the lives of farmers and rural Minnesota. More than 30 years ago, she served on the statewide steering committee of rural leaders who helped design the business model for the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, according to the Southwest Initiative Foundation.

Lundebrek served on the Southwest Initiative Foundation board of directors until retiring in 2018.

“We are grateful for Jan’s expertise in community and economic development. She has provided thoughtful insight to our new strategic direction, and we look forward to our continued connection with her,” then SWIF President and CEO Diana Anderson said of Lundebrek.

Going back to the early 1980s, Jan provided leadership to important conversations about the future of rural Minnesota. Her insights have led to new and positive ideas, she said.

“With financial expertise, Jan put her economic development, business and banking background to use for the foundation as treasurer, chair of Finance and Audit and Farmland Retention Committees and on the Loan Advisory Committee,” Anderson said. “She also kept the foundation directly connected to agriculture with her background as a farmer, ag lender and Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company board member.”