The seed plant in Belle Plaine currently known as Gro Alliance will have a new name under new management as of April 30. Precision Soya released the following statement this week:
“Precision Soya, the quality leader and preferred provider in the seed contract-production industry, announced today it has withdrawn from a joint business venture with Louis J. Schweigert and North-Gro of Cuba City, Wis., known as GRO Alliance.
“As of April 30, 2010, Precision Soya will manage and operate seed corn contract production services at its following plant locations: Bluffton, Indiana, Belle Plaine, Iowa, Whiting, Iowa, and Farmer City, Illinois. Precision Soya will offer field production, seed conditioning, warehousing and distribution services, as it had prior to the joint venture with GRO Alliance established in 2005.
“With this advancement, customers will enjoy the same direct communication with Precision Soya’s individual plants that has been the hallmark of the company’s superior customer service. The ability to communicate with each plant individually enables customers to relay their unique needs, which Precision Soya is fully equipped to meet.
“Precision Soya will continue to offer its technology, facilities and people to provide the integrity and service the industry demands, and help facilitate a seamless transition throughout the 2010 production season and for years to come.
“Founded in 1979 on the principles of quality and service, Precision Soya has 12 locations across the Midwest.”
Members of the new management team have been meeting with employees at the Belle Plaine plant this week. The plant employs 18 full-time workers in the local plant.

With first place finishes in the 4 x 800 and the shuttle hurdle relays, the Belle Plaine boys’ track squad finished third in the seven-team Ruritan Relays at Pekin on Monday. Albia raced out to the team title with 182 points. Lone Tree was second with 103 and the Plainsmen finished with 99 points, ahead of fourth place Waco with 70.
Other top finishes for the Plainsmen included a second by Stephen Muench and a third by Scott Croft in the 3,200 meter run. Seivon Steward was second in the 100 meter dash, finishing out of the lead by one one-hundredth of a second. Chad Olson was sixth in the 400 meter dash. Keegan DeMeulenaere was second in the 110 meter hurdles and John Long was second in the 1,600 meter run. Mitch Schmuecker placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles. Ben Ehlen was second and Brent Stull was fourth in the 800 meter run.
The Plainsmen placed third in the 4 x 200, 4 x 100 meter and distance medley relays. They were fifth in the 4 x 400 meter relay.
The team will next be in action on Tuesday at the English Valleys Relays.

Belle Plaine’s girls’ track squad is getting primed for what should be another great season this year. Coach Julie Mantz welcomed a squad of 28 athletes, including Taylor Schafbuch and Megan Abernathy, seniors who were co-winners of the Most Valuable Player Award last season, as well as several team award winners.
Three seniors were lost to graduation, but this year’s squad includes seven freshmen.
Last year, the Plainsmen collected first place finishes in seven meets and won the conference meet for the third year in a row. They also sent several events to the state meet.
The coach says that there should be some experienced athletes for each event. The Plainsmen also boast a talented group of seven freshmen, several of whom had success in junior high and in other sports this school year. She added that if the Plainsmen hope to repeat as SICL Conference champions, they will have to find a way to stop North Mahaska.
They open the season Tuesday at the English Valleys Relays.
The following is a list of squad members, along with what they will be competing in this year and any major accomplishments from last year:
Seniors
Bree Nerison – 100, 200, 400 and hurdles.
Mallory Brandt – 100 and 200. Member of first team all-conference 4 x 200 and sprint medley relay teams.
Megan Abernathy – 100, 200 and long jump. Conference champ in the 100, long jump and a member of the 4 x 200 relay team. Placed 12th at state in the long jump. Member of the 4 x 200 relay team that placed tenth. Co-winner of the Most Valuable Player Award.
Taylor Schafbuch – 200, 400 and hurdles. School record holder in 400 meter hurdles. She finished 14th in the 400 meter hurdles at state and was a member of the 10th place 4 x 200 meter relay team at state. Co-winner of the Most Valuable Player Award.
Sara Haffner – 400.
Ariel Hawkins – 800.
Juniors
Andrea Lohf – shot and discus.
Abby Lohf – 400 to 3,000. Last year’s Guts Award winner.
Dani Coover – 100, 200 and hurdles. Member of conference champion sprint medley relay team. District champ in 100 meter hurdles, set a school record in the event and placed fifth at state. She also was a member of the school record-setting shuttle hurdle relay team.
Sophomores
Allie Upah – 400, 800 and possibly the 100.
Savannah Buch – 800, 1,500 and 3,000. Rookie of the Year Award winner.
Melissa Janss – 100, 200 and hurdles. Member of the conference champion sprint medley relay team.
Emily Mast – 400 and 800.
Hope Kriegel – 400, 800 and high jump.
Macy DeMeulenaere – 100, 200 and 400.
Meghan Miller – shot.
Freshmen
Jamie Rich – 400.
Darian Griffith – hurdles, 100 and 200.
Melissa Stull – shot and discus.
Emily Coover – 100, 200 and hurdles.
Julie Long – 800.
Kaley Hamilton – 400 and 800.
Dani Chilcote – 800.

Belle Plaine girls’ track
April 6 at English Valleys Relays
April 12 at Iowa Valley Relays
April 16 at Nevada Colo-Nesco Relays
April 17 at Oskaloosa Relays
April 19 at Keota Relays
April 23 at BGM Relays
April 26 Belle Plaine Invitational
April 30 at West Liberty Relays
May 4 at Montezuma (SICL)
May 7 at Mid-Prairie Relays
May 11 at Montezuma Relays
May 14 Regional
May 20-22 State at Des Moines

Front Lt to Rt

Team members include, front row, from left: Taylor Schafbuch, Megan Abernathy, Bree Nersion,

Ariel Hawkins, Sarah Hafner, Mallory Brant. Second row: Savannah Buch, Melissa Janss, Macy

DeMeulenaere, Katie Croft, Andrea Lohf, Abby Lohf, Dani Coover, Emily Mast, Hope Kriegel.

Back row: Darian Griffith, Jamie Rich, Melissa Stull, Kaley Hamilton, Julie Long, Dani Chilcote,

Emily Coover, Nikki Miller, Allie Upah, Meghan Miller, Bailey Gorsch