North Dakota State University Extension and NDSU Research Extension Center support staff were honored for their years of service at their biennial support staff conference held April 21-23 in Fargo, North Dakota. Because the conference occurs every two years, employees who reached service milestones from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, were included in the 2026 event.

The following staff were recognized:

Five Years

• Trisha Berg, NDSU Extension, Ramsey County
• Torie Piehl, NDSU Extension, LaMoure County
• Tiffany Munson, NDSU Extension, Eddy County
• Krista Olson, Human Development and Family Science
• Jayla Smith, NDSU Extension, Benson County
• Andrea Evert, Agriculture Budget Office

10 Years

• Darla Bakko, Agriculture Budget Office
• Shirrell Ott, NDSU Extension, Ward County

15 Years

• Cherie Fischer, Agriculture Budget Office
• Linda Schuster, Carrington Research Extension Center

20 Years

• Dixie Schulz, NDSU Extension, Stark-Billings County
• Jane Hayen, NDSU Extension, Cavalier County
• Chris Anderson, Agriculture Communication
• Michelle Pulvermacher, NDSU Extension, Divide County

25 Years

• Diane Herding, NDSU Extension, Cass County

30 Years

• Phil Koapke, North Central Research Extension Center
• Ona Vig, Agriculture Budget Office
• Phyllis Okland, Dickinson Research Extension Center
• Robbi Hopkins, NDSU Extension, Ransom County

35 Years

• John Grindahl, Agriculture Communication

*Photos of all spring conference award honorees can be found at 2026 Support Staff Award Photos. Photos are taken with Greg Lardy (left), Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture at NDSU.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – May 6, 2026

Source: Lynette Flage, 701-231-7782, lynette.flage@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu