Rick Griffith will be taking a job with Farm Credit Services of America in Casper. He has worked with Holly since 1986 and came to Torrington as district ag manager in 1998. His last day will be July 20.

He basically came upon a job that was too good to turn down, said Leroy Schafer, Holly district manager. It was an opportunity to advance his career.

Dave Hansen, controller, has been hired as business manager for Wyoming Child and Family Development in Guernsey. His Holly career started in 1987 in Torrington. He will leave Holly on Aug. 3.

According to Schafer, both job positions will be replaced shortly. The ag manager position will be filled from inside the company, but officials need to investigate further how to fill the controller position.

Well know more next week whether we will stay inside or go outside the company, he said.

Schafer admitted it is unusual to have two employees leave at the same time like that.

I believe theyre leaving for other opportunities, he said. I dont think the state of the beet industry was a totally determining factor.

Holly Sugars parent company, Imperial Sugar Company, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last January, following negotiations for financial restructuring. The company filed a disclosure statement June 5, gaining approval to have their confirmation in place by Aug. 7, which will allow the company to reorganize and ultimately come out of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Another issue that may affect Holly is the proposed buyout of Western Sugar, which is a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle North America, by the Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Co-op. The process is set to close July 30.

I dont really see our industry as doom and gloom, Schafer said. We are waiting to see the impact of the co-op going forward. That definitely has an impact on our future as well as theirs. Either way could be very positive for us.