FORM 8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 19, 2001.


                             HIGH PLAINS CORPORATION

              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Kansas                                                               #1-8680
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (Commission File
incorporation)                                                       Number)



200 W. Douglas                                                   #48-0901658
Suite #820                                                     (IRS Employer
Wichita, Kansas  67202                                   Identification No.)
(Address of principal
executive offices)


                                 (316) 269-4310
                         (Registrant's telephone number)






Item 5  Other Information

Wichita, KS, June 19, 2001 -- High Plains Corporation (Nasdaq: HIPC) today
announced the decision of its Board of Directors to de-classify (de-stagger)
the terms of office served by Board members, replacing the current three-year
staggered terms provided by the Company's by-laws with annual elections for
one-year terms.  The change was made with a formal amendment to the Company's
by-laws, and will be effective for the directors standing for election at the
next annual shareholders meeting scheduled for November, 2001.

"This action will increase the Board's accountability to shareholders," said
Donald Schroeder, High Plains' Board Chairman, "and is one more step in the
progression of good corporate governance we initiated last year with the
adoption of a formal corporate governance by-law."  The prior by-law
amendment, announced May 9, 2000, formalizes increased oversight
responsibilities of the Board, and requires at least two-thirds of the Board
(and 100 percent of many critical committees) to be independent, and to meet
in independent executive session each meeting.

"We believe de-staggering the Board will increase potential institutional
interest in High Plains, and will help us focus on our priority of enhancing
shareholder value," continued Schroeder.  "The Board has been sensitive to
the fact that many large institutions prefer the annual election of all
directors.  We also recognize that this is an era in which management of many
large companies is in conflict with its shareholders over out-dated corporate
control provisions, and we are proud to have adopted one of the strongest,
and most shareholder friendly, corporate governance programs of any public
company," he concluded.

Based in Wichita, Kansas, High Plains Corporation is the seventh largest of
54 U.S. producers of ethanol, the gasoline additive that helps clean the air
while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  High Plains is the only public
company which is a pure play in ethanol, and it is currently expanding its
capacity from 67 million gallons to over 85 million gallons of annual
production.  The company has seen significant recent revenue and earnings
growth, and stands to benefit substantially in the event its principal
competitive product, MTBE, is legislated out of use.  The Company operates
facilities in Colwich, Kansas; York, Nebraska; and Portales, New Mexico.


This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.  Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties, including without limitation risks of fluctuations
in feedstock commodity prices, changes in the market prices or demand for
motor fuels and Ethanol, legislative changes regarding air quality, fuel
specifications or incentive programs, as well as general market conditions,
competition and pricing.  The Company believes that forward-looking
statements made by it are based upon reasonable expectations.  However, no
assurances can be given that actual results will not differ materially from
those contained in such forward-looking statements.  Additional information
concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's Securities
and Exchange Commission filings, including its annual 10-K, Proxy Statement
and quarterly 10-Q filings, copies of which are available from the Company
without charge.





                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant had duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Date:     June 19,  2001                      HIGH PLAINS CORPORATION


                                              /s/Gary R. Smith
                                              President & CEO