Excerpt from Brazilian Sugar Journal STAB, March/April 2016: "On February 25, 2016, Western States reentered the Sugar Market of Brazil after 45 years. Pictured below are Mr. David Douglas Buckner, Mr. Robert Sinnard Jr, Mr. Todd Hershberger, and Mr. Rafael Ibañez, representatives of Western States, together with Ricardo Funcasta Dias, Gilberto Fuzaro, Edivaldo Ferezini Bilko and Ivan Ferraz Correa, representatives to the joint venture with BIG and Colmena. The launch of the union was held in the Technology Park of Piracicaba. The companies merged during a social event held with various entities of the sugar cane sector, engineering companies, customers and friends. At the event, the centrifuges to be manufactured in Brazil were featured." 137