After 28 years of dedicated service to North Dakota State University, Andrew Thostenson, Extension pesticide program specialist, will retire effective Nov. 1.

Thostenson began his career with NDSU Extension as the agriculture and natural resources agent in Pembina County in 1996. He accepted the pesticide specialist position and has led the Extension pesticide program since 1998. He has conducted over 1,400 trainings for professional dealers and applicators and issued over 56,000 certifications to about 30,000 professional applicators and dealers. He also provided training materials to NDSU Extension agents who would issue more than 74,000 private certifications. He also provided training materials to conduct over 4,200 trainings for private applicators to 39,000 farmers and ranchers.

“Andrew’s dedication to the Extension pesticide program has had a tremendous impact for professional applicators and dealers across North Dakota,” says Mohamed Khan, assistant director and program leader for agriculture and natural resources programs at NDSU Extension. “We wish him all the best on a well-deserved retirement.”

Thostenson received both B.S. and M.S. degrees in plant sciences from the University of Idaho. He owned and operated a seed and crop management consulting company in the Pacific Northwest for 10 years before joining NDSU.

“My work at NDSU has been fulfilling,” Thostenson says. “I enjoyed working with pesticide applicators and dealers and am indebted to them for their kindness towards me during my tenure. I am especially thankful for working with many talented colleagues at NDSU.”

Thostenson is a former president and current fellow of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, the former chair of Environmental Protection Agency’s Certification and Training Assessment Group, and was a representative on the State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group. He received numerous awards, including the NDSU Agriculture Collective’s George Washington Award, the NDSU Epsilon Sigma Phi Continued Excellence and Excellence in Extension awards, the NDSU Agriculture Communication Communicator of the Year Award, and two American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators President’s Awards.

Information on a reception to honor Thostenson will be announced at a later date.

Khan says Extension has begun the search for the next pesticide program specialist. The ideal candidate will start date prior to Nov. 1 to facilitate the transition of the program.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – April 10, 2024

Source: Mohamed Khan, 701-231-7867, mohamed.khan@ndsu.edu

Contact: Andrew Thostenson, 701-231-8050, andrew.thostenson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Elizabeth Cronin, 701-231-7006, elizabeth.cronin@ndsu.edu