From the Smoky Lake Signal, Wednesday, September 17, 1980.

Storing Pellets

UGG's end elevator is now storing alfalfa pellets for droughted out prairie farmers. It has  also changed hands, Midland Lumber, owned by ex-mayor George Kozub has bought the elevator and annex from UGG for somewhere in the $20,000 price range. The land is still on lease from CN.

Mr. Kozub, who is president of the alfalfa plant will rent the one time grain storage facility to the alfalfa pelletizing company. Behind the quest for more storage of pellets in the area is an Alberta government's grant of $350,000 to the 13 pelletizing plants in the province. Smoky's share of $26,000 will only be paid to the plant if they store 45% of the year's production for domestic use in drought ridden Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern B.C., explained Mr. Kozub.

Already 100 railcars or 80,000 tons of pellets have been shipped to Saskatchewan.

"The pelletizing plant didn't  have the money to pay for more storage," said Mr. Kozub. So Midland Lumber, Mr. Kozub's lumber yard made the deal, bought the elevator and will rent space to the plant.

Building new steel bins such as are in use at the plant now would cost $85,000 including the concrete base. Compared to that, this storage is cheap.

The elevator will allows allow for an offshoot industry to start in the area, said Mr. Kozub, the bagging of  pet foods. Rabbits, cattle, horses, fish are all fed pellets. The many shooted elevator should allow for easy and inexpensive bagging facilities.

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