Kristin Harner has joined North Dakota State University as the director of Agriculture Communication.

As director, she is responsible for providing leadership and managing the staff and fiscal resources for a department of 24 employees. In collaboration with the vice president for Agricultural Affairs, she will develop, implement and oversee short and long-term communication, marketing and technology strategies for NDSU Agricultural Affairs, serving NDSU Extension, the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Stations and NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.

Harner holds a bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State University, Brookings.

Prior to joining Agriculture Communication, she was public relations, communications and foundation director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, director of agricultural programs for Heritage Halls in Owatonna, Minn., and director of agricultural programs for the Fond du Lac (Wis.) Area Association of Commerce. She also is an owner and operator in her family’s small community-supported agriculture farm near Northfield, Minn.

“Kristin comes with a broad set of experiences in communications and was most recently with the Minnesota Farm Bureau,” says Greg Lardy, vice president for Agricultural Affairs. “Her nearly 20 years with that organization gave her an excellent set of experiences that she will be bringing to our unit. I am looking forward to working with her to develop a long-term strategy for NDSU Agriculture Communication that takes a comprehensive look at our efforts and work to communicate with internal and external stakeholders.”

“I’m excited to work with such a talented team,” Harner says. “I am looking forward to working for NDSU, serving the people of North Dakota.”

NDSU Agriculture Communication - April 6, 2021

Source: Greg Lardy, 701-231-7660, gregory.lardy@ndsu.edu

Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu