Exhibit 5.1


 [BROWN, WINICK, GRAVES, GROSS, BASKERVILLE AND SCHOENEBAUM, P.L.C. LETTERHEAD]

                               September 20, 2002



The Board of Directors
East Kansas Agri-Energy, L.L.C.
20477 S.W. Florida Road
Westphalia, Kansas  66093

         RE:      2002 Registration Statement

Dear Sirs:

In connection with the proposed offer and sale of up to 18,000 units of the
membership interests (the "Membership Units") of East Kansas Agri-Energy, L.L.C.
(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 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 filed by East Kansas
                  Agri-Energy, L.L.C. with the United States Securities and
                  Exchange Commission on July 11, 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 as to factual
matters; 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.




September 18, 2002
Page 2

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. We have confirmed that no attorney in this office that has
provided legal services to the Company within the past six months has notice or
knowledge of any misstatements or inaccuracies in the representation upon which
we have relied.

The opinions expressed herein shall be 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,



                                            Bill Hanigan


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