The 35th annual Harvest Bowl program at North Dakota State University will be held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Highlights of the event include a Harvest Bowl dinner and awards on Oct. 31, and the Harvest Bowl football game between NDSU and Indiana State on Nov. 1.

As the state’s land-grant university, NDSU plays a major role in contributing knowledge through research, academic programs and the Extension Service. More than 1,800 agriculturists have been recognized and more than $76,000 in scholarships have been awarded to NDSU student athletes with agricultural backgrounds.

The NDSU Harvest Bowl program recognizes the success, dedication and hard work of outstanding agriculturists in 53 counties in North Dakota and five counties in Minnesota.

An agribusiness award recipient is chosen annually. This award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of agriculture and business in North Dakota and beyond. The late Eugene Dahl, one of North Dakota’s premier business owners, is the 2008 award recipient.

Dahl may be responsible for more manufacturing jobs in North Dakota than anyone else. The companies that he was most directly involved with, Bobcat and Steiger, are household names in North Dakota. When you add in the businesses his sons and former key employees have been involved in - Concord, Amity Technology, Phoenix, WilRich and Wishek - you get considerably more jobs.

Eight scholarships also are awarded to outstanding male and female athletes. The 2008 Harvest Bowl Scholarship recipient is Christine Bruins, a member of the NDSU track and field team. Bruins is from Watford City. The recipient of a Harvest Bowl Scholarship in memory of Robert Johansen is Matt Gratzek, a defensive tackle on the NDSU football team. Gratzek is from Argyle, Minn.

The Bob and Darlene Yaggie Football Scholarship is awarded to Michael Arndt, an offensive tackle on the NDSU football team. Arndt is from LaMoure. Receiving the Bob Lauf Memorial Scholarship is Inger Hodgson, a guard on the NDSU women’s basketball team. Hodgson is from Barneveld, Wis. The Ron and Karen Offutt Scholarship goes to Gerald Ebel, an offensive lineman from Yankton, S.D.

The Red River Commodities Scholarship is awarded to Laura Murphy, a member of the NDSU soccer team. Murphy is from East Bethel, Minn. The LeVon Kirkeide Scholarship goes to Whitney Carlson, a member of the NDSU women’s track and field team. Carlson is from Buchanan. The Robert and Bruce Yaggie Harvest Bowl Scholarship goes to Ryan Foster, an offensive guard on the NDSU football team. Foster is from Eleva, Wis.

The 35th annual Harvest Bowl festivities begin Friday, Oct. 31, at the Fargo Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center with a dinner, awards ceremony and games. On Saturday, honorees will participate in educational sessions on the NDSU campus and attend the Harvest Bowl football game.

For tickets and information on Harvest Bowl activities, visit the NDSU Alumni Association Web site at http://www.ndsualumni.com/, call the NDSU alumni office toll-free at (800) 279-8971 or locally at (701) 231-6800, or e-mail marilyn@ndsualumni.com.

NDSU Agriculture Communication