The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer - Quill Publisher/Owner
At the 40th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, Ethanol Producer Magazine honored twenty women within the ethanol industry and highlighted the crucial role women play in the growth and success of the industry, whether it be through scientific research, business leadership, or advocacy efforts. The annual event was this week and announced the top WIE award winner during its General Session.
Deb Green of the Rozetta area, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Big River Resources, LLC was one of the 20 women across the U.S. who was nominated for the prestigious Women in Ethanol top award. She has been a leader at Big River Resoures since its inception in West Burlington, IA. and helped it form as a cooperative and grow into a holding company structure under the late CEO Raymond E Defenbaugh, her father who won the High Octane Award in 2015. The initial start of the BRR cooperative began in July 1992 with fuel and feed production objectives to put value into farmers grain and to help rural communities.
Big River Resources currently has four subsidiaries beneath it which include Big River Resources West Burlington, LLC; Big River Resources Galva, LLC; Big River Resources Grinnell, LLC; and Big River Resources Boyceville, LLC.
They have facilities in West Burlington, IA; Boyceville, WI; Monmouth; Gerlaw; Edgington; Aledo; Galva; and Grinnell, IA; and, they consist of a 90 million gallons per year (mgy) ethanol facility, a 100 mgy ethanol facility, and 10.61 million-bushel capacity grain elevator sites located on either the Burlington Northern Railroad or Canadian National Railway. They have an investment in Absolute Energy, LLC a 100 mgy ethanol facility in St. Ansgar, IA, and are a majority shareholder and managing company of Big River United Energy, LLC a joint venture company in Dyersville, IA. BRR has a 21-member board, employs 249 team members full time and has been profitable for shareholders since its inception with 2023 with one of its most profitable years since its first production 20 years ago. Profits are on track to increase this year and for several years, as ethanol fuel for aviation increases.