<!--Enhanced HTML document created with Toppan Merrill Bridge  9.9.1.77--><!--Created on: 3/25/2021 07:50:07 PM (UTC)--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"><html><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><title></title></head><body><div style="margin-top:30pt;"></div><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:30pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</b><a name="New_Section"></a></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">Washington, DC 20549</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">March 24, 2021</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0.5pt;padding-right:0.5pt;table-layout:auto;width:100%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:29.91%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:37.82%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:32.26%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:17pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC</b></p></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)</font></p></td></tr><tr style="height:17pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:29.91%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:13pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">Minnesota</b></p></div></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:37.82%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:13pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">000-51277</b></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:32.26%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:13pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">41-1997390</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:24pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:29.91%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:24pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></p></div></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:37.82%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:24pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">(Commission File Number)</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:32.26%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:24pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13pt;"><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:63.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:13pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">15045 Highway 23 SE, Granite Falls, MN</b></p></div></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:36.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:13pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">56241-0216</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt;"><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:63.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:14pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></p></div></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:36.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:14pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">(Zip Code)</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">(320) 564-3100</b></p></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt;"><td colspan="4" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">(Issuer&#39;s telephone number)</font></p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:&#160;</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:9pt;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:100%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:31.94%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:27.37%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:36.66%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:31.94%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.19;padding-left:6.75pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-6.75pt;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Title&#8239;of&#8239;each&#8239;class:</b>&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;</b>&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:27.37%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Trading Symbol</b>&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;</b>&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:36.66%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Name&#8239;of&#8239;each&#8239;exchange&#8239;on&#8239;which&#8239;registered:</b>&#160;</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:31.94%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;padding-left:6.75pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-6.75pt;margin:0pt;">None</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:27.37%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">NA</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:36.66%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">&#160;NA</p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (</font><i style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-style:italic;">see</i><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';"> General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0.5pt;padding-right:0.5pt;table-layout:auto;width:100%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.75%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:97.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.75%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:1;">&#9723;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:97.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.75%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:1;">&#9723;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:97.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.75%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:1;">&#9723;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:97.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.75%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:1;">&#9723;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:97.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:6pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">Emerging growth company </font><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji';">&#9723;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. </font><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji';font-size:11pt;">&#9723;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">ITEM 1.01 - ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS </b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><font style="font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Merger Agreement </font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">On or about March 24, 2021, Granite Falls Energy, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (&#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">GFE</u>&#8221;), and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (&#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">HLBE</u>&#8221;), executed a Merger Agreement, pursuant to which GFE will acquire the minority interest of HLBE (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Merger</u>&#8221;). The structure of the transaction will be a merger in which a wholly owned subsidiary of GFE (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Merger Sub</u>&#8221;) will merge with and into HLBE, with HLBE surviving the transaction as a wholly owned subsidiary of GFE.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">A copy of the Merger Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.1 to this report. The proposed transaction is further detailed in a Plan of Merger, which is furnished as Exhibit 2.1 to this report. </p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">Prior to the Merger, GFE owns approximately 50.7 percent of the issued and outstanding units of HLBE. Excluding the units owned by GFE, there are 38,456,283 units of HLBE issued and outstanding (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Minority Interest</u>&#8221;). The purchase price for the entire Minority Interest is $14,000,000 in cash payable at the closing of the Merger. Each issued and outstanding unit of the Minority Interest will be canceled and converted into the right to receive $0.36405 per Unit. (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Merger Consideration</u>&#8221;). </p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">The units of HLBE held by GFE immediately prior closing of Merger shall be cancelled with no consideration issued to GFE. &#160;GFE will emerge from the transaction as the sole owner of HLBE.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">At the time the Merger becomes effective, 100 percent of the membership interest in the Merger Sub shall be converted into and become 100 percent of the membership interests in HLBE, as the surviving company in the Merger. </p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">The Merger is subject to approval by a majority of the Minority Interest of &#160;HLBE. A special meeting of the members of HLBE will be called to vote on the Plan of Merger. The Merger is also subject to (i) the consent of GFE&#8217;s lender, (ii) GFE&#8217;s ability to obtain financing for the transaction, (iii) confirmation that the Merger will not have materially adverse tax consequences for GFE, (iv) the receipt of regulatory approval, including approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (v) the receipt of third-party consents. &#160;</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, GFE and HLBE release, acquit, and discharge each other and all related parties from all claims, including, all liabilities, obligations, claims, litigation, actions, causes of action, suits, proceedings, executions, judgments, demands, damages, losses, duties, debts, dues, accounts, fees, costs, expenses and penalties, and agree not to initiate, maintain, prosecute or continue to maintain or prosecute any action, suit or proceeding, or seek to enforce any right or claim against the other or its related parties. </p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, HLBE and GFE shall appoint an exchange agent who shall be responsible for, among other things, dispersing Merger Consideration to holders of Minority Interest units who properly surrender their units. Both HLBE and GFE agree to pay their own transaction expenses related to the Merger.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><font style="font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Voting agreements related to Merger</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">On or about March 24, 2021, GFE and HLBE entered into a Voting Agreement, pursuant to which GFE agrees to vote its units of HLBE in favor of the proposed Merger (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">GFE Voting Agreement</u>&#8221;). The GFE Voting Agreement also provides that GFE will designate HLBE as its proxy for the purposes of voting for the Merger, GFE will refrain from transferring any of its units of HLBE prior to the Merger, and GFE authorizes HLBE to suspend trading of all units until the Merger is complete or is terminated. A copy of the GFE Voting Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.2 to this report.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">Additionally, on or about March 24, 2021, GFE and the governors of HLBE appointed by HLBE&#8217;s Minority Interest (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Governors</u>&#8221;) entered into a Voting Agreement (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">HLBE Voting Agreement</u>&#8221;). Pursuant to the HLBE Voting Agreement, the Governors agree to vote for the Merger, recommend the members of HLBE vote for the Merger, and </p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">designate HLBE as their proxy for the purpose of voting for the Merger. The Governors additionally agree not to transfer their units and authorize HLBE to suspend trading of all units until the Merger is complete or is terminated. A copy of the HLBE Voting Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.3 to this report.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">ITEM 5.07 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS </b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">On March 25, 2021, Granite Falls Energy, LLC (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Company</u>&#8221;) held its 2021 Annual Meeting of Members (the &#8220;<u style="text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Annual Meeting</u>&#8221;) for the purpose of electing three governors to its board of governors. Votes were solicited in person and by proxy. </p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">Of the Company&#8217;s 30,606 units issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, 17,635 units, or 57.6% of the total units, were present either in person or by proxy. As a result, a quorum was present to conduct business at the Annual Meeting.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">There were four nominees for the three governor positions, incumbent Paul Enstad, incumbent Marten Goulet, incumbent Rodney Wilkison, and David Forkrud. The votes were as follows:</p><div style="padding-left:45pt;" align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;width:75.96%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Name</b></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Votes For</b></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Votes Withheld/Abstaining</b></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">David Forkrud</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">12,937</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">2,507</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">Rodney Wilkison</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">10,270</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">1,580</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">Paul Enstad</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">9,654</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">1,599</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:29.11%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">Marten Goulet</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:24.05%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">9,374</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:3.79%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:39.24%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;">1,333</p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">As a result, Mr. Forkrud, Mr. Wilkison, and Mr. Enstad were elected governors of the Company to serve a three-year terms expiring at the 2024 Annual Meeting or until a successor has been elected and qualified or such governor&#8217;s earlier death, resignation, or removal.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;">No other matters were voted upon at the Annual Meeting.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.19;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">ITEM 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">(a)None.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">(b)None.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">(c)None.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">(d)Exhibits.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">&#160;</p><div align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:99.89%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">Exhibit No.</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">Description</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">2.1</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="tmb-20210324xex2d1.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:justify;">Plan of Merger between Granite Heron Merger Sub, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.</font></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">10.1</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="tmb-20210324xex10d1.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:justify;">Merger Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.</font></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">10.2</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="tmb-20210324xex10d2.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:justify;">Voting Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.</font></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:13.47%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;">10.3</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:86.52%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;min-height:10.0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="tmb-20210324xex10d3.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:justify;">Voting Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and certain governors of Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.</font></a></p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</b></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0.5pt;padding-right:0.5pt;table-layout:auto;width:100%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:50.95%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:50.95%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-weight:bold;line-height:1;">GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:50.95%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:50.95%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Date: March 25, 2021</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.04%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><i style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-style:italic;line-height:1;">/s/ Stacie Schuler</i></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:50.95%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.37;margin-bottom:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.19;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';line-height:1;">Stacie Schuler, Chief Financial Officer</font></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Calibri','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:11pt;line-height:1.37;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:avoid;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"></body></html>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "tmb-20210324x8k.htm", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 56738}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Granite Falls Energy, LLC", "cik": "0001181749", "assigned-sic": "2860", "irs-number": "411997390", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-51277", "film-number": "21772200"}, "business-address": {"street1": "15045 HIGHWAY 23 S.E.", "city": "GRANITE FALLS", "state": "MN", "zip": "56241-0216", "phone": "320-564-3100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "15045 HIGHWAY 23 S.E.", "city": "GRANITE FALLS", "state": "MN", "zip": "56241-0216"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GRANITE FALLS COMMUNITY ETHANOL PLANT LLC", "date-changed": "20020821"}}
​
​
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
​
FORM 8-K
​
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
​
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 24, 2021
​
​
GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
​
Minnesota
000-51277
41-1997390
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
​
15045 Highway 23 SE, Granite Falls, MN
56241-0216
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
​
(320) 564-3100
(Issuer's telephone number)
​
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
​
Title of each class:
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered:
None
NA
NA
​
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
​
◻
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
◻
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
◻
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
◻
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
◻
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
◻
​
ITEM 1.01 - ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS
Merger Agreement
On or about March 24, 2021, Granite Falls Energy, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company ("
GFE
"), and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company ("
HLBE
"), executed a Merger Agreement, pursuant to which GFE will acquire the minority interest of HLBE (the "
Merger
"). The structure of the transaction will be a merger in which a wholly owned subsidiary of GFE (the "
Merger Sub
") will merge with and into HLBE, with HLBE surviving the transaction as a wholly owned subsidiary of GFE.
A copy of the Merger Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.1 to this report. The proposed transaction is further detailed in a Plan of Merger, which is furnished as Exhibit 2.1 to this report.
Prior to the Merger, GFE owns approximately 50.7 percent of the issued and outstanding units of HLBE. Excluding the units owned by GFE, there are 38,456,283 units of HLBE issued and outstanding (the "
Minority Interest
"). The purchase price for the entire Minority Interest is $14,000,000 in cash payable at the closing of the Merger. Each issued and outstanding unit of the Minority Interest will be canceled and converted into the right to receive $0.36405 per Unit. (the "
Merger Consideration
").
The units of HLBE held by GFE immediately prior closing of Merger shall be cancelled with no consideration issued to GFE.  GFE will emerge from the transaction as the sole owner of HLBE.
At the time the Merger becomes effective, 100 percent of the membership interest in the Merger Sub shall be converted into and become 100 percent of the membership interests in HLBE, as the surviving company in the Merger.
The Merger is subject to approval by a majority of the Minority Interest of  HLBE. A special meeting of the members of HLBE will be called to vote on the Plan of Merger. The Merger is also subject to (i) the consent of GFE's lender, (ii) GFE's ability to obtain financing for the transaction, (iii) confirmation that the Merger will not have materially adverse tax consequences for GFE, (iv) the receipt of regulatory approval, including approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (v) the receipt of third-party consents.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, GFE and HLBE release, acquit, and discharge each other and all related parties from all claims, including, all liabilities, obligations, claims, litigation, actions, causes of action, suits, proceedings, executions, judgments, demands, damages, losses, duties, debts, dues, accounts, fees, costs, expenses and penalties, and agree not to initiate, maintain, prosecute or continue to maintain or prosecute any action, suit or proceeding, or seek to enforce any right or claim against the other or its related parties.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, HLBE and GFE shall appoint an exchange agent who shall be responsible for, among other things, dispersing Merger Consideration to holders of Minority Interest units who properly surrender their units. Both HLBE and GFE agree to pay their own transaction expenses related to the Merger.
Voting agreements related to Merger
On or about March 24, 2021, GFE and HLBE entered into a Voting Agreement, pursuant to which GFE agrees to vote its units of HLBE in favor of the proposed Merger (the "
GFE Voting Agreement
"). The GFE Voting Agreement also provides that GFE will designate HLBE as its proxy for the purposes of voting for the Merger, GFE will refrain from transferring any of its units of HLBE prior to the Merger, and GFE authorizes HLBE to suspend trading of all units until the Merger is complete or is terminated. A copy of the GFE Voting Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.2 to this report.
Additionally, on or about March 24, 2021, GFE and the governors of HLBE appointed by HLBE's Minority Interest (the "
Governors
") entered into a Voting Agreement (the "
HLBE Voting Agreement
"). Pursuant to the HLBE Voting Agreement, the Governors agree to vote for the Merger, recommend the members of HLBE vote for the Merger, and
designate HLBE as their proxy for the purpose of voting for the Merger. The Governors additionally agree not to transfer their units and authorize HLBE to suspend trading of all units until the Merger is complete or is terminated. A copy of the HLBE Voting Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 10.3 to this report.
ITEM 5.07 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On March 25, 2021, Granite Falls Energy, LLC (the "
Company
") held its 2021 Annual Meeting of Members (the "
Annual Meeting
") for the purpose of electing three governors to its board of governors. Votes were solicited in person and by proxy.
Of the Company's 30,606 units issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, 17,635 units, or 57.6% of the total units, were present either in person or by proxy. As a result, a quorum was present to conduct business at the Annual Meeting.
There were four nominees for the three governor positions, incumbent Paul Enstad, incumbent Marten Goulet, incumbent Rodney Wilkison, and David Forkrud. The votes were as follows:
​
​
​
​
​
Name
​
Votes For
​
Votes Withheld/Abstaining
David Forkrud
​
12,937
​
2,507
Rodney Wilkison
​
10,270
​
1,580
Paul Enstad
​
9,654
​
1,599
Marten Goulet
​
9,374
​
1,333
As a result, Mr. Forkrud, Mr. Wilkison, and Mr. Enstad were elected governors of the Company to serve a three-year terms expiring at the 2024 Annual Meeting or until a successor has been elected and qualified or such governor's earlier death, resignation, or removal.
No other matters were voted upon at the Annual Meeting.
​
​
ITEM 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)None.
(b)None.
(c)None.
(d)Exhibits.
​
​
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
Plan of Merger between Granite Heron Merger Sub, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.
10.1
Merger Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.
10.2
Voting Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.
10.3
Voting Agreement between Granite Falls Energy, LLC, and certain governors of Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC, dated March 24, 2021.
​
​
SIGNATURES
​
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
​
​
​
​
GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC
​
​
Date: March 25, 2021
/s/ Stacie Schuler
​
Stacie Schuler, Chief Financial Officer
​