Several staff members have recently received well-deserved recognition and we’d like to brag for a moment.

Each fall, NDSU Agriculture Experiment Station’s Research Extension Center staff, including scientists and specialists from the Carrington REC, our sister REC’s and all of the Extension agents and specialists across North Dakota, gather at Fall Conference. This multi-day conference provides sessions related to research updates, Extension program planning and professional development that helps set the path for the coming year. This conference also provides an opportunity to celebrate programming successes and service accomplishments. NDSU recognizes “milestone” years of service at five-year increments.  At this year’s Fall Conference, NDSU recognized several CREC staff members who attained the following milestones.

5 Years

• Mary Berg (Extension Livestock Environmental Management)
• Billy Kraft (Plant Pathology)
• Mike Ostlie (Agronomy)
• Jasper Teboh (Soil Science)

15 Years

• Ezra Aberle (Agronomy)
• Richard Richter (Foundation Seedstocks)
• Timothy Schroeder (Livestock)

25 Years

• Leonard Besemann (Agronomy, Oakes Irrigation Research Site)

35 Years

• Steve Zwinger (Agronomy)

The Carrington REC has many long-time employees.  In fact, over half of our staff have been full-time employees of NDSU for over 10 years, and a number were “summer crew” before that!

Blaine Schatz (left) awarding Mike Ostlie (right) with Years of Service certificate.

In addition to years of service milestones, programs and staff were recognized for excellence and impact on our constituencies. Among those recognized was the CREC’s Extension Agronomist, Greg Endres. Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Extension Service honorary organization, honored Greg for his support of and service to the NDSU Extension Service. He received the Visionary Leadership Award, presented annually to an Extension professional whose work has enabled Extension to anticipate emerging needs and develop support to implement relevant programs. 

In recent months a couple of the national professional organizations that CREC staff participate in and contribute to have held their annual meetings. We are pleased to share with you the following awards and honors that CREC staff were recognized for.

NACAA

In July, Greg Endres and Mary Berg received honors at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents annual meeting at Salt Lake City, Utah in July. Information about the awards is included in this news release. 

Greg Endres (right) receives the Visionary Leadership Award from Brad Brummond, an agent in NDSU Extension's Walsh County office and president of the Upsilon Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. (NDSU photo)

Greg was a regional winner in the Publication category. His Extension publication, "Impact of Planting Dates on Dry Edible Bean," emphasizes that the traditional planting dates from late May to early June remain appropriate because early planting increases risk, while seed test weight increases at normal planting dates. NDSU Extension agronomist Hans Kandel co-authored this publication.

Mary received the National Achievement Award for outstanding educational efforts by a person with less than 10 years of experience with the Extension Service. Berg's Extension programming focuses on water quality improvement via livestock manure management.

Mary, along with several NDSU Extension collaborators, was also recognized for various state, regional and national finalist awards in the Website, Video Presentation, Fact Sheet, Learning Module and Search for Excellence categories.

Mary Berg, Todd Weinmann and Alicia Harstad receiving a national finalist award for the learning module communications awards category in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ASA

Greg Endres was part of a ten-person team that received the American Society of Agronomy’s 2017 Extension Education Community Educational Materials award for Field Guide to Sustainable Production of High-quality Durum Wheat in North Dakota.  The annual international meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America was held in Tampa, Florida in October. This meeting was held at the same time as Fall Conference so Greg’s contributions at conference prevented him from attending the ASA in person.

The CREC has a very experienced staff of research and educational professionals who are dedicated to serving the mission of the CREC and of NDSU Agriculture. The information just shared is but an example of the recognition and accomplishments that others have bestowed upon our staff in years past.

Blaine Schatz
blaine.schatz@ndsu.edu
Director and Agronomist