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The Sidney Kiwanis Club recognized the Holly Sugar top 10 sugar beet growers Thursday. In addition to being treated to lunch, the growers were honored by the Kiwanis membership for their outstanding contributions to a healthy ag economy in the MonDak area. Holly Sugar Agricultural Manager Russ Fullmer announced the top producers. Growers were separated into two groups: growers that harvested under 175 acres of beets and those who harvested 175 acres or more.

Top 10 sugar beet growers honored Thursday included, front from left, Lynn Haidle, Gerry Rod, Ken Knels, Don Rau, Milo Payette and Kent Payette. Back, Brad Haidle, Scott Buxbaum, Brian Buxbaum, Jim Karst and Roger Bearce. Jeffrey Ketterling is not pictured.  Photo by Rick Schneider.

The top five in each division were as follows:

Under 175 acres - 1. Haidle, Inc. operated by Lynn Haidle east of Fallon, 169 acres at 19.94 percent sugar content and 14 parts per million brein; 2. Gerry Rod of Trenton, 109 acres, 19.33 percent, 16 ppm; 3. Jefferey Ketterling of Fairview, 105 acres, 19.14 percent, 15 ppm; 4. Ken Knels farming near Culbertson, 174 acres, 19.23 percent 25 ppm; 5. Rau Farms, Inc. operated by Don Rau near Glendive, 80 acres, 19.05 percent 15 ppm.

175 acres or more - 1. Payette Farms, Inc. operated by Milo and Kent Payette of Fairview, 378 acres, 19.16 percent, 15 ppm; 2. Brad Haidle of Fallon, 325 acres, 19.14 percent, 16 ppm; 3. 4B Farms operated by Scott and Brian Buxbaum at Fairview, 310 acres, 19.12 percent, 16 ppm; 4. Jim Karst of Fairview, 289 acres, 19.09 percent, 14 ppm; 5. Roger Bearce of Trenton 182 acres, 19.08 percent, 15 ppm.

Fullmer said, "Without the frost, the sugar would have been a percent higher and the brien content lower. You (the growers) did a fantastic job and we at Holly hope success continues for all the growers."

Fullmer estimates that over half, perhaps 60 percent, of the slice is complete. About 140,000 tons of the growers' beets remain to be sliced. That job should be complete the first part of January. Then it will take another month to process the stockpile of beets purchased by Holly under the regular grower contracts.