POET Bioprocessing – Preston General Manager Chris Hanson said that of more than 200 bioethanol plants in the U.S., his is the only one without rail access, which is both a blessing and a curse.
“That limits us in being able to reach some markets to the east of here,” he said. “But where the railroad used to be, they’ve built an absolutely gorgeous bike trail.”
He explained that the eastern part of Fillmore County, in the southeastern tip of Minnesota, is known as “Bluff Country” because of its scenic limestone bluffs, with an extensive river network. A major tourist area, people come from all over the U.S. to ride the bike trail, hike, fish, camp, kayak, and visit the local Amish community.
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Stephen Rogers, Chris Hanson, Pete Solum, and Jennifer Reis
And while the eastern half of Fillmore County, including its proximity to Rochester, offers an attractive quality of life, the western half is on the edge of the prairie and is rich corn country. To add value to that corn, in the mid-1990s, three hundred farmers got together to form the Southeast Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative. To build their plant, they joined forces with a young bioethanol entrepreneur named Jeff Broin.
Constructed in 1997, what eventually became the POET Bioprocessing – Preston started grinding corn in 1998 to produce 12.5 million gallons of bioethanol. Over the years, the facility has more than quadrupled in size — it now produces 52 million gallons annually.
Although POET – Preston has grown into a much larger facility, it is still one of the smaller facilities in the POET family. However, its team is known for punching above its weight, taking pride in both innovation and excellence.
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“We’re the biggest in the POET family in liquid carbon dioxide (bioCO2) production,” Hanson said. “Our team captures and purifies thousands of tons of bioCO2 each year for food-grade and industrial uses, including carbonated beverages, creating dry ice, and supplying local businesses. It’s a critical part of our plant operations, and our team is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and quality.”
Hanson emphasized that this success is driven by the entire POET – Preston team, from lab technicians to merchandisers to operators and managers. “Our people are what make this facility great. Every day, they go the extra mile to keep our operations running smoothly, and that dedication is what has allowed us to grow and stay competitive. While this is one of POET’s older facilities, our team takes a lot of pride in it, and they keep it looking and operating great.”
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Chris Hanson: Teamwork makes the dreamwork
Hanson grew up on a hobby farm in central Minnesota. After getting his degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota, he worked in an iron ore mine for a number of years before coming to POET. He’s now been with POET – Preston for 20 years, ten as general manager. Upon his arrival in the area, he was delighted to learn that his Norwegian heritage would fit right in.
“Most people here either trace their roots to Norway or Germany,” he said. “You can still occasionally find Lutheran churches putting on lutefisk dinners,” he said.
Hanson credits the plant’s success to its “very welcoming team, who want to help everyone be the best they can be at their job.” He said his team has a high rate of retention and frequently refer others to work there. His team is also focused on “robust solutions, and recognizing mistakes as a valuable part of the learning process. We have a lot of fun together.”
POET – Preston is involved in a plethora of activities in the community, but one of which Hanson is particularly proud is its local scholarship program. He said that over the past twenty years, $155,000 has been awarded to students in STEM, agriculture, or related fields.
“Of those recipients, we have had a number come back to us for internships, and some have become team members,” he said.
For Hanson, 20 years at POET would suggest he likes his job.
“My job has meaning,” he said. “We’re making a great product that’s good for the environment, good for energy independence, good for farmers, and good for the community. Every single day, I get to make the world a better place for my children and the world. That’s pretty awesome.”
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Stephen Rogers: Navy veteran
Stephen Rogers served in the Navy aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald S. Ford for nine years, earning a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering technology in the process. But he always knew that at some point, he wanted to return home to Lanesboro, Minnesota — about 15 miles east of Preston, where his grandfather owned a small farm that he now operates.
Rogers started working at POET – Preston in 2019 as a plant technician, but soon worked his way up to plant manager, his current position. He says he has a “really strong team.”
“They have great minds, and they’ve chosen to invest their careers with POET. We don’t take that lightly,” he said. “My favorite part of my job is helping my team enjoy their jobs.”
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Jennifer Reis: Tri-state living
Lab Technician Jennifer Reis grew up a Green Bay Packer fan in Wisconsin. While attending college at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, she met her husband, who farms just over the state line in Iowa. She made the move to Iowa when she started at POET Bioprocessing – Preston.
“I guess that makes me a tri-state girl,” she laughed.
At work, she enjoys the testing, troubleshooting problems, and the people she works with. Off the job, she keeps very busy as a 4-H leader and taking her kids — one in high school and one in junior high — to their sporting events, including travel teams. They also show beef cattle.
“We have a lot going on, but I really enjoy watching them,” she said.
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Pete Solum: Racecar driver turned farmer
For about 17 years, Commodity Manager Pete Solum raced his dirt-track stock car all around Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri, using what else: E-85.
“It was less expensive than regular racing fuel, improved both the torque and horsepower, and it helped me win some races,” he said. “But I had to give it up about three years ago. With three kids and farming on the side, something had to give.”
Solum said his favorite part of his job is working with farmers.
“What I do outside of work is what I get to do at work. I learn a lot by talking with farmers that I get to apply to my own corn and soybean farm.”
For POET’s team, every gallon tells a story: of the farmers who grow the corn, the families who rely on local jobs, and the teammates who work side-by-side to make it all possible.
“We take pride not just in what we make, but in how we make it,” said Hanson. “Every gallon represents our shared effort to create something meaningful for our community and for future generations.”
