Exhibit 5.1


                     [Letterhead of Messerli & Kramer P.A.]


December 20, 2002

The Board of Governors
Granite Falls Community Ethanol Plant, LLC
2448 - 540th Street, Suite 1
Granite Falls, Minnesota 56241

     RE:  2002 Registration Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the proposed offer and sale of up to 30,000 units of the
membership interests (the "Membership Units") of Granite Falls Community Ethanol
Plant, LLC (the "Company"), we have made such legal examination and inquiries as
we have deemed advisable or necessary for the purpose of rendering this opinion
and have examined originals or copies of the following documents and corporate
records:

     1.   The Company's Articles of Organization;
     2.   The Company's Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement;
     3.   The Company's resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the
          issuance of units; and
     4.   The Company's Registration Statement, as originally filed by the
          Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on
          August 30, 2002.

In rendering our opinions we have relied upon, with the consent of the Company
and its members: (i) the representations of the Company and its members and
other representatives as set forth in the aforementioned documents; and (ii)
certificates and assurances from public officials and from members and other
representatives of the Company as we have deemed necessary for purposes of
expressing the opinions expressed herein. We have not undertaken any independent
investigation to determine or verify any information and representations made by
the Company and its members and representatives in the foregoing documents or in
such certificates, and we have relied upon such information and representations
in expressing our opinions. We have assumed in rendering these opinions that no
person or party has taken any action inconsistent with the terms of the
above-described documents or prohibited by law.

The opinions expressed herein are effective only as of the date of this
opinion letter. The opinions set forth herein are based upon existing law and
regulations, all of which are subject to change prospectively and retroactively.
Our opinions are based on the facts and the above documents as they exist on the
date of this letter, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement such
opinions as to future changes of law or fact. This opinion letter is limited to
the matters stated herein and no opinions are to be implied or inferred beyond
the matters expressly stated herein.

Based on our examination and inquiry, we are of the opinion that, upon
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and when issued and sold in the
manner referred to in the Registration Statement and under the applicable
subscription agreement(s), the Membership Units will be duly authorized, fully
paid and non-assessable.


Very truly yours,


/s/ Messerli & Kramer P.A.

MESSERLI & KRAMER P.A.