Back in September, it was reported that U.S. military veterans comprise 16 percent of the ethanol workforce—one out of every six employees. Remarkably, this share is not only more than three times the national average, but higher than any other segment of the U.S. energy sector and 60 percent above the petroleum industry.

At the time, Geoff Cooper, RFA’s president and CEO, himself an Army veteran, reflected that "it’s no surprise that so many military veterans have found a home in the ethanol industry. It’s a natural fit for workers who are mission-driven, innovative, and dedicated to strengthening America’s energy security. Through our Veterans for Renewable Fuels initiative, RFA recognizes the vital contributions of our large veteran workforce, and we are proud to employ so many former military service members."

In the past, RFA has introduced you to a few veteran members of the U.S. ethanol industry. Today, I’m pleased to introduce you to five more American heroes. You can click on the links to read their whole stories.

Shayne Cook, a U.S. Army veteran, serves as a truck driver for Western Plains Energy LLC. He spent nearly nine years in uniform from November 2010 to June 2019 as a 91 Foxtrot Small Arms and Towed Artillery Repairer. His military journey took him from the cold training grounds of Fort Wainwright, Alaska to Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Stewart, Georgia, with a ten-month deployment to Afghanistan. Full profile here.

Ralph Holzfaster’s story reflects a life guided by service, innovation, and community spirit. A U.S. Air Force and Korean War veteran, Nebraska farmer, and advocate for renewable energy, Ralph has spent every chapter of his life helping others move forward, whether through aviation, agriculture, or advancing rural development across the Great Plains. Today Ralph continues to share his experience and leadership through his work with Mid America Agri Products / Wheatland LLC in Madrid, Neb. Full profile here.

For Jeff Kindler, joining the U.S. Army wasn’t a question of if, it was a matter of when. “I always knew I was going to join,” he said. “When I was in kindergarten, my best friend and I would do low crawls across the playground. His dad was our first recruiter.” That early enthusiasm led Jeff to enlist in June 1991 as an 11B Infantryman, serving through 1997 with assignments in Hawaii, Wake Island, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. Each location offered its own challenges and lessons, but one deployment left a lasting mark. As a back-end operator in the process department at Western Plains Energy, he applies the same resilience and problem-solving skills he learned in uniform. Full profile here.

Angela Turck’s journey in both service and sustainability is one rooted in resilience, purpose, and transformation. A proud U.S. Army National Guard veteran who served in both South Dakota and Minnesota from 1996 to 2004, Angela began her military career as an 88M Truck Driver and rose to the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Today, she brings that same discipline and determination to her role as chief compliance officer at Redfield Energy. Full profile here.

Brian Wolf, a U.S. Army veteran, is the maintenance supervisor at Western Plains Energy. His military career spanned more than 26 years, beginning in February 1994 and concluding in May 2020. During that time, he served as a 63W Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and deployed twice to Iraq, first from November 2004 to November 2005, and again from October 2010 to December 2011. Full profile here.