MANKATO, Minn., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The City of Mankato marked the opening today of Sibley Park's Story Book Farm, and announced that the CHS Oilseed Processing plant, Mankato, is donating $100,000 to develop two other Sibley Park attractions. The CHS sponsorship will be used to construct a pergola and to develop the existing rock garden.
CHS operates soybean crushing and refining facilities at Mankato and Fairmont, Minn., annually processing nearly 90 million bushels of soybeans purchased from area growers and their local cooperatives. The Mankato Oilseed Processing plant operates on Mankato's Riverfront Drive, with part of the plant adjacent to Sibley Park.
The Mankato Area Foundation made a donation from the Al and Erla Fallenstein fund for the construction of the Sibley Park Story Book Farm. The farm includes two new, red barn-style buildings that will house a variety of small animals that will give children an opportunity to experience farm animals through interaction, displays and activities.
"We're proud to work and live in this community, and establishing the CHS pergola and rock gardens is one way to demonstrate gratitude to our customers, our neighbors, Mankato citizens and the surrounding region," says Tom Malecha, vice president, Oilseed Processing for CHS, Mankato.
Mark Knoff, Mankato director of public works, says the CHS sponsorship makes it possible to complete two components of the city's long-range Sibley Park plan much earlier than originally scheduled. "Improvements to the rock garden and construction of a pergola will begin in the spring of 2009, which puts us about two years ahead of our planned park enhancements," said Knoff.
Knoff says the CHS pergola -- a steel structure -- will be reminiscent of a park structure from the 1930s, and will likely be a popular destination for weddings, picnics and other community events. CHS rock garden improvements will include upgrading walking paths, covering them with an arbor and installing an irrigation system.
"The CHS pergola and rock gardens will provide Mankato area residents with more ways to appreciate flowers, nature and our beautiful, historic park," said City Manager Patrick Hentges.
CHS Inc. (http://www.chsinc.com/) is a diversified energy, grains and food company committed to providing the essential resources that enrich lives around the world. A Fortune 200 company, CHS is owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives, along with thousands of preferred stockholders, from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border to Texas. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, livestock feed, grain, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions, including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex(R) brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products. CHS is listed on the NASDAQ at CHSCP.
