Sidney's Holly Sugar added the one-person personnel department, in 1996. Due to the 30-year low sugar prices, and the necessity to utilize cost-saving methods throughout the corporation, Holly Sugar discontinued the personnel department in the spring of 2000. However, the department was a part of the 75th campaign, and played a valuable role in company operations.

Despite its tiny size, the department played a large role in human resources and safety at the plant. Eldon Moos, the department manager, had a lot of responsibilities keeping track of all sorts of personal information, providing safety bulletins and information, keeping abreast of changes in relevant laws and handling various benefit records.

Moos conducted interviews for most job hirings. He ensured that Holly Sugar, as an equal opportunity employer, conducted all interviews and hirings by proper protocols, and he worked with and understood other legal requirements necessary in the hiring process.

As well, Moos kept up with the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) safety requirements. This required him to maintain safety standards and procedures at the factory. Moos also distributed a weekly pamphlet dealing with safety topics related to all jobs within the factory.

Moos worked closely with the employees union. If any related problems arose with employees, Moos got the problem resolved either locally or with the help of the Sugar Land office in Texas. He facilitated any disagreements or misunderstandings employees may have had, and he also referred any legal questions to the Sugar Land office.

Moos, a native of Circle, MT, worked for 15 years with the Job Service in Sidney before accepting the position as personnel manager with Holly Sugar in 1997. While at the Job Service, Moos worked with migrant laborers and sugar beet growers, so he was familiar with various programs and policies before he started his position with Holly.

Before the creation of the personnel department, the other Holly departments shared the responsibilities for the duties now associated with the personnel department. The first personnel manager, Heidi Kranker, began her duties with the newly formed department in June of 1996. Kranker had a strong background in safety, so she developed a program and protocols to make Sidney's Holly Sugar always inspection ready. She also organized programs, safety inspections and instituted a spill response team and a plant rescue team.

The personnel department operated under the assumption that every employee is important. Both Kranker and Moos, acting in their position of personnel manager, worked diligently to ensure that each employee felt valued and important. Moos continued to follow Kranker's outstanding performance in the safety arena by working hard to maintain an excellent plant safety record.

With the discontinuance of the personnel department due to financial constraints, the other Holly departments will again share the responsibilities for the duties performed by the personnel department.