Faust receives Friend of the Cooperative Award

January 13, 2008

WHEELER - Paul Harrison, president of the Western Wisconsin Renewable Energy Cooperative (WWREC), recently presented Dunn County agricultural agent Jim Faust with a Friend of the Cooperative Award. This is a new award given to individuals in special recognition of their contributions to the WWREC.

As part of the announcement, Harrison said, " From the beginning of our project, Jim Faust played a key role in helping develop the cooperative. Whether it was sitting though late night planning sessions or working on a myriad of other permitting matters, Jim has always been there to assist our effort. Recognizing Jim with the Friends of the Cooperative Award way is just a small way of thanking him for his hard work."

Commenting on the award, State Senator Pat Kreitlow applauded Faust for his efforts. "I always admire public servants that go above and beyond the call of duty to do good things for their communities." he said. "Jim is one of those people. By working with farmers throughout the region, Jim was able to help the cooperative build an agricultural business which creates additional markets for local corn."

Faust was recognized for his contributions during the WWREC's recent annual meeting held in Menomonie. Faust is the first person to receive the honor from the WWREC. Faust has been the Dunn County agricultural agent in Dunn County for 28 years.

Also during the meeting, the WWREC returned more than a $1 million dividend to cooperative members for the second year in a row.

Ray Dreger, secretary/treasurer of the cooperative, also expressed gratitude toward Faust's endeavors.

Dreger said, "Jim's commitment to helping farmers throughout Dunn County can never be questioned. Since 2000, Jim worked hard to educate farmers on creating and managing a cooperative. The WWREC board was unanimous in deciding Jim should be the first person to receive this award."

The WWREC ethanol plant has been in operation since Aug. 28, 2006. The plant is designed to produce 40 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year, which can be used in numberous vehicles being massproduced by automobile manufacturers.

The Dunn County News; Sunday, January 13, 2008; Agriculture; A10