[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 12748] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SUCCESS FOR WESTERN SUGAR AND THE SCOTTSBLUFF SUGAR INDUSTRY ______ HON. ADRIAN SMITH of nebraska in the house of representatives Thursday, July 1, 2010 Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the success of the sugar beet industry in the Panhandle region of Nebraska for its relationship with Western Sugar and its various owners over the past 100 years. Opened in 1909, the sugar beet factory operated by the Great Western Sugar Company--along with the development of improved irrigation canals--soon made the raising of sugar beets a major agricultural industry in Scotts Bluff County and the surrounding areas. With the aid of the sugar factory, Scottsbluff was rapidly becoming the principal trading center of the valley. As people in surrounding farms and villages acquired automobiles, Scottsbluff was invariably their destination. A century later--through tough economic times and even a tragic explosion in 1995--this stalwart factory has proven to be the bedrock it was in 1909. The company boasts 260 full time employees (a number which grows substantially during harvest) and a $10.6 million annual payroll. It is not a stretch to say without Western Sugar, there would be no sugar beet industry in the Scottsbluff-Gering area. Nearly one-third of the acreage in our region is designated for sugar beets--almost all of which are processed through the sugar factory. Last week we celebrated 100 years of Western Sugar's successful processing factory. This success is directly attributable to the commitment and dedication of its employees, local businesses, sugar beet growers and their families. ____________________