Winthrop, Nov 8 - Fifteen students from Norwood Young America’s Central High School toured Heartland Corn Products on Nov 7 to learn how renewable ethanol is produced.

“We’re always happy to host students from Central High School’s Small Engines class. In addition to showcasing our production process and highlighting potential career pathways, these tours give us an opportunity to educate students on the various ways our industry benefits Minnesotans by lowering prices at the gas pump, substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions within transportation, strengthening rural economies and bolstering energy independence,” said Tom Paitrick, CEO of Heartland Corn Products. 

The students, from grades nine to 12, learned about the various stages of ethanol production during their tour including incoming grain grading and handling, fermentation, grain storage, ethanol storage and shipment and dried distillers grains with solubles production and storage.

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

“Our students learned about a renewable energy source that is important to our region and became more informed consumers of fuel in engines both small and large. They also learned about career opportunities related to ethanol,” said Jim Mesik, agriculture teacher at Central High School.