NEWS RELEASE

Immediate Release:
March 19, 2008

Nebraska Corn Board contact:
Randy Klein: 800.632.6761

Nebraska Corn Board presents Ethanol Industry and Media Awards

LINCOLN, NE – The Nebraska Corn Board has recognized two individuals for outstanding contributions to the corn industry.

Receiving the newly established Ethanol Industry Award was Dwayne Braun of Aurora, while the first annual Media Award went to Don McCabe of Lincoln.

Braun is the general manager of both the Central City and Ord ethanol plants. The two plants are owned by the newly merged VeraSun Energy and US BioEnergy.

In presenting the award, Jon Holzfaster, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board, praised Braun for his personal commitment to Nebraska’s ethanol and ag industries. “Dwayne is more than a manager. He is always focused on positive interaction with corn and livestock producers,” Holzfaster said. “His plants are dedicated to paying the fairest price, maintaining the shortest unload times and providing the highest quality modified wet distillers grains.”

“Dwayne has also been a great partner and advocate in building markets for ethanol and distillers grains. He partnered with the Corn Board on our ‘Powering Nebraska’s Economy with Corn’ newspaper campaign and serves as an ongoing resource on the industry’s needs,” Holzfaster said.

McCabe is the editor of the Nebraska Farmer magazine. He has worked for that publication for more than 30 years.

Holzfaster recognized McCabe for “setting a new standard in reporting on the work of commodity boards and their checkoff investments”.

“Don does an outstanding job of providing objective and in-depth coverage of Nebraska’s corn industry. He is very proactive in his reporting on issues related to corn production and utilization,” Holzfaster said. “We also appreciate his inclusion of Nebraska Corn Board news items and his positive editorial on the board’s business plan.”

The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of ¼ of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.

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