Claremont, Apr 2 - Thirty-four students from Triton High School toured Al-Corn Clean Fuel on March 27 to learn more about renewable fuel production.

“We appreciate students from Triton High School’s integrated science classes taking time out of their schedules to learn about ethanol production. It gives us an opportunity to showcase how, for nearly three decades, we have developed a sustainable business that continues to strengthen our rural economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, prices at the pump and our reliance on foreign oil,” said Thomas Harwood, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel.

During the tour, the students learned about the various stages in ethanol production. This included incoming grain grading and handling, fermentation, grain storage, ethanol storage and shipment and dried distillers grains with solubles production and storage. 

The students that participated in the tour were ninth graders from the school’s Integrated Science class. 

They were accompanied by Allison Horejsi and Brian Felten, science teachers at Triton High School. 

“Our integrated science students have recently been learning about alternative energy. We are fortunate to have the Al-Corn facility in our school district. This field trip provided students with the opportunity to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it directly to our environment. Real world connections such as this give students a meaningful learning experience. We are fortunate for this field trip opportunity,” she said. 

For Felten, the tour provided his students exposure into potential careers in the ethanol industry.

“Making students aware of these opportunities after high school is an important step in assisting them in finding a future career. Not only do we want students to be successful, we also want to encourage them to stay in the area so that our communities remain strong and viable,” he said. 

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels). Al-Corn Clean Fuel is a member of MN Bio-Fuels.