The American Coalition for Ethanol’s board of directors elected officers for the upcoming year, bringing even more grassroots representation and diversity to the nation’s largest ethanol advocacy association, the group said in a news release.

Lars Herseth was elected as president of the American Coalition for Ethanol. He operates Herseth Ranch, his family farm near Houghton, S.D., where he raises corn and soybeans along with a small calf operation.

He serves on the board for Northern Growers LLC and is also an investor in the locally-owned ethanol plants Glacial Lakes Energy LLC of Watertown, S.D., Redfield Energy LLC of Redfield, S.D., as well as Granite Falls Energy LLC of Granite Falls, Minn.

Herseth served in the South Dakota State Legislature for many years; first in the House of Representatives from 1975-1986 followed by the Senate from 1989-1996. He is the father of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.

Herseth takes over at ACE from Brian Wilcox of Nebraska Public Power District, who became acting president earlier this year when the position was vacated by Bob Scott, whose company, POET Ethanol Products, resigned from the Board.

Brian Wilcox was today re-elected to serve as vice president, a leadership position he has held for several years. Owen Jones of 4 Seasons Co-op was re-elected as treasurer. Jones is a farmer and rancher from Britton, S.D.

Duane Kristensen of Chief Ethanol in Hastings, Neb., was newly elected as the organization’s secretary. Chief Ethanol began operations in 1985 and is Nebraska’s first dry mill ethanol plant.

ACE founder and first president Merle Anderson of Climax, Minn., retains his seat on the board and was granted the title chairman emeritus.