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                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                          [FORM OF FACE OF CERTIFICATE]

              Organized Under the Laws of the State of South Dakota

                                                           CLASS A CAPITAL UNITS
A-

                             LAKE AREA ETHANOL, LLC

THIS CERTIFIES THAT___________________________________________ IS THE OWNER AND
REGISTERED HOLDER OF______________________________________ CLASS A CAPITAL UNITS

                            in Lake Area Ethanol, LLC

TRANSFERABLE ONLY ON THE BOOKS OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BY THE HOLDER
HEREOF IN PERSON OR BY DULY AUTHORIZED ATTORNEY UPON SURRENDER OF THIS
CERTIFICATE PROPERLY ENDORSED.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE SAID LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY HAS CAUSED
              THIS CERTIFICATE TO BE SIGNED BY ITS DULY AUTHORIZED OFFICERS THIS
              ___ DAY OF ____________________, 200__.

_____________________                                          _________________
     SECRETARY                                                     PRESIDENT

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                        [FORM OF REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]

              The sale and transfer of the Capital Units represented
              by this Certificate are restricted by, and subject to,
              the provisions of the Operating Agreement of Lake Area
              Ethanol, LLC. The Operating Agreement provides, among
              other things, that no sale, assignment, transfer, gift,
              exchange or other disposition of these Capital Units is
              valid except as specifically provided for in the
              Operating Agreement. Copies of the Operating Agreement
              and instructions for transfer, sale or other disposition
              of these Capital Units are available for inspection at
              the Company's principal office.

              Any holder of the Class A Capital Units represented by
              this Certificate has an annual obligation to deliver
              corn to Lake Area Ethanol, LLC, under the terms of a
              Corn Delivery Agreement, a copy of which is available
              for inspection at the Company's principal office.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________ HEREBY SELL, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER UNTO ______________

_______________________________________________________________________________,
_____________ CAPITAL UNITS REPRESENTED BY THE WITHIN CERTIFICATE, AND DO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTE AND APPOINT __________________________________________
ATTORNEY TO TRANSFER THE SAID CAPITAL UNITS ON THE BOOKS OF THE WITHIN NAMED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION IN THE PREMISES.

DATED ____________________, 20_____

IN PRESENCE OF ___________________________________________________

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS
WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT
ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.<Page>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                             DDGS MARKETING CONTRACT

         This DDGS Marketing Contract is made and entered into this 7th day of
June, 2001 by and between DAKOTA ETHANOL, LLC having an address of Post Office
Box 100, Wentworth, South Dakota, 57075 (hereinafter referred to as "Owner"),
and DAKOTA COMMODITIES (a division of Broin Enterprises, Inc.), having an
address of 851 Washington Street, Scotland, South Dakota, 57059 (hereinafter
referred to as "Marketer").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Owner would like to utilize the services of Marketer to
market Dry Distiller's Grain with Solubles, Modified Wet Distiller's Grain, Wet
Distiller's Grain, and Solubles (syrup), herein collectively referred to as DDGS
from its plant near Wentworth, South Dakota; and,

         WHEREAS, the Marketer has the ability and experience to market DDGS;
and,

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into and execute this Contract for
the purpose of setting forth terms and conditions.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

         The Owner gives Marketer exclusive rights to market all Distiller's
Feed Products from its ethanol plant near Wentworth, South Dakota. Marketer will
market all DDGS for an initial period of five years from the date the plant
begins production of DDGS.

         The Owner will inform the Marketer of daily inventories, plant
shutdowns, daily production projections, and any other information requested by
the Marketer.

         Marketer will be responsible for arranging truck and rail
transportation.

         Owner agrees to participate in and share the cost for DDGS promotional
activities with Marketer.

                                      FEES

         Marketer will guarantee the sale of the Owner's DDGS at available
market prices. The Marketing Fee will be 3% of gross monthly DDGS sales, with a
minimum annual marketing fee of $200,000 per year, F.O.B. the plant site near
Wentworth, South Dakota.

                                     BILLING

         Marketer will be responsible for billing and receipt of payment for all
DDGS. Marketer will be responsible for paying all freight bills. Owner will be
invoiced for actual freight costs from Marketer. Each Thursday a payment will be
made to Owner for all DDGS invoiced 13-19 days prior that have been paid by
customer. The marketing fee will be deducted from each payment to Owner.

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         Owner will be responsible for furnishing Marketer with a report by
10:00 a.m. each workday of the previous day's shipments.

         Owner will be responsible for EDI billing of railcars. Marketer will be
responsible for tracing railcars.

                                   COLLECTIONS

         Marketer will make reasonable efforts to review the creditworthiness of
the Owner's DDGS customers. As deemed necessary, at Marketer's discretion,
Marketer will obtain, at its expense, Credit Bureau reports or Dun and
Bradstreet reports for customers of the Owner. Marketer will then recommend to
Owner which, if any, accounts Marketer feels should be rejected. Owner will have
the right to request and review the rejection recommendations and/or reports and
notify the Marketer in writing of any customers that should not be rejected and
additional customers that are rejected by the Owner. The Marketer will not sell
product to any customers rejected by the Marketer or Owner.

         Marketer will make reasonable efforts to collect any past due accounts.
Any collection agency fees resulting from the collections process will be borne
by the Owner. All accounts receivable losses arising from the marketing of DDGS
are the sole responsibility of the Owner.

                                      TERMS

         The term of this Contract is for a period of five (5) years from the
start of production of DDGS. This Contract renews automatically for an
additional five (5) years, at the end of each five (5) year period, unless
discontinued by either party. Notice of discontinuation must be made in writing
at least three (3) months prior to the expiration date of the Contract.

                          DISCONTINUATION OF PRODUCTION

         In the case that Owner wishes to discontinue the production of DDGS,
Owner will notify Marketer one year in advance so that all contract commitments
made by Marketer may be met. If less than one year notice of discontinuance of
production is provided to Marketer, or if unforeseen circumstances cause the
cease of production, Owner grants Marketer the right to buy in product
shortfalls for the account of Owner on any unfulfilled contracts, and that any
associated losses will be reimbursed by Owner to Marketer.

                                    LIABILITY

         Any and all liability related to the product shall remain the sole
liability of owner.

                                    INSURANCE

         Marketer will provide Owner with a certificate of insurance showing a
minimum of one million dollars in liability coverage.

         Owner will provide Marketer with a certificate of insurance showing a
minimum of one million dollars in liability coverage.

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                                    REPORTING

         Marketer will provide Owner with the following reports on a regular
basis during the term of this Contract:

                                LISTS OF REPORTS

                 Report                                      Frequency
                 ------                                      ---------
                 Shipping Orders                             Daily
                 Railcar Tracing                             Daily
                 Market Information                          Weekly
                 Contract Summary                            Monthly

         Owner will provide Marketer with the following reports on a regular
basis for the term of the contract.

                 Daily Production                            Daily
                 Summary of Shipments                        Daily

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         1. INDEMNITY BY THE OWNER. Owner shall indemnify, hold harmless and
defend the Marketer, and its officers, directors, employees and agents from and
against any and all claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses,
including but not limited to, attorneys' and other professional fees, in
connection with loss of life, personal injury and/or damage to property of third
parties, arising from or out of Marketer's services attorneys' and other
professional fees, in connection with loss of life, personal injury and/or
damage to property of third parties, arising from or out of Marketers' services
provided under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except that Owner
shall not indemnify, hold harmless and defend Marketer from (i) the negligent or
intentional acts of the Marketer and its officers, directors, employees and
agents, (ii) any act beyond the scope of the Marketer's services to be rendered
under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (iii) any violation of
laws, regulations, ordinances and/or court orders. Any and all liability related
to the product shall remain the sole liability of the Owner.

         2. INDEMNITY BY THE MARKETER. Marketer shall indemnify, hold harmless
and defend the Owner, and its governors, employees an d agents from and against
any and all claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses, including, but
not limited to, attorneys' and other professional fees, in connection with loss
of life, personal injury and/or damage to property of third parties arising from
or out of (i) the negligent or intentional acts of Marketer and its officers,
directors, employees and agents, (ii) any act beyond the scope of Marketer's
services to be rendered under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
(iii) any violation of laws, regulations, ordinances and/or court orders.

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                         ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT

         This Contract contains the entire DDGS Marketing agreement between the
parties. No oral statements, representations or prior written matter not
contained in this Contract shall have any effect regarding DDGS Marketing. This
Contract shall not be amended or modified in any manner except by a writing
executed by both parties.

                                  NO ASSIGNMENT

         Marketer shall not, without the prior written consent of Owner, assign,
transfer or subcontract any rights or obligations of Marketer under this
Contract. If the shareholders of Marketer sell, assign or transfer a controlling
interest in Marketer, or if Marketer sells substantially all of its assets,
Owner shall have the right to terminate this Contract without liability to the
Marketer.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contract on
the date and year first above written.

DAKOTA ETHANOL, L.L.C.         (Owner)

     BY     /s/ Doug Van Duyn
         ---------------------------------------
         Its Chairman Doug Van Duyn

and

     BY    /s/ Brian D. Woldt
         ---------------------------------------
         Its Secretary - Brian D. Woldt

DAKOTA COMMODITIES (Marketer)
     (A division of Broin Enterprises, Inc.)

     BY  /s/ Henry Bender, Director of Marketing
         ---------------------------------------
                                 Title

WITNESS  /s/ Mike Salonen
        -------------------

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