FARGO, N.D. (NDSU Extension) – The success, dedication and hard work of outstanding agriculturists in 53 counties in North Dakota and seven counties in Minnesota were honored during the 46th annual Harvest Bowl program at North Dakota State University on November 8th.

Below is a photo and description of each recipient recognized during the Harvest Bowl:

Barnes – Bruce and Jeanne Shanenko, Valley City

Bruce and Jeanne Shanenko raise soybeans, wheat and corn on a fourth-generation family farm near Valley City using minimum-tillage farming methods. They have been farming for 44 years and received the Minimum Tillage Award from the Barnes County Soil Conservation District. Bruce farms with his brother and sons. In addition, he has been a member of the Valley City Rural Fire District Board for 24 years and the Evergreen Co-op Board for nine years. He also is a member of the Barnes County Wildlife Club. Jeanne is a Grace Free Lutheran Church volunteer. She also was a volunteer at the North Dakota Winter Show for several years. They have two children.

Dickey – Robert and Erica Thorpe, Oakes

Robert and Erica Thorpe raise corn and soybeans on a three-generation family farm near Oakes using strip-tillage farming methods, as well as irrigation and tile drainage. They have been farming for 18 years. Robert also is a member of the Oakes Public School Board and a volunteer youth coach at Oakes Elementary School. Erica, a substitute teacher, is a co-founder of the Jim River Kids 4-H Club in Dickey County. She also is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and shows horses with her daughter, Lily. They have two children.

Eddy – Greg and Brenda Rue, Sheyenne

Greg and Brenda Rue raise cereal grains and row crops, as well as beef cattle, on a fourth-generation farm near Sheyenne using direct-seeding and minimum-tillage farming practices. They have been farming for 39 years and received the Eddy County Soil Conservation District Achievement Award in 2014. Greg also is a member of the Grandfield Cemetery Board. Brenda is a former 4-H Council member and 4-H leader. They have two children.

Emmons – Dave and Kathy Bauman, Linton

Dave and Kathy Bauman have a Red Angus commercial and registered cow-calf pair operation near Linton. They also run a third-generation seedstock operation with help from their four children and nine grandchildren. They raise feed crops, corn, alfalfa, oats, millet and tame grass using no-tillage crop rotation, cover crops, pasture rotation and a stewardship program. In addition, they raise registered American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and American Paint Horse Association (APHA) horses. They have been farming for 43 years and had the state champion Red Angus heifer in 2006. Dave is a member of several organizations, including North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, AQHA, APHA, North Dakota Red Angus and American Red Angus associations, and Beaver Valley Horse Club. He also is a 4-H leader. Kathy managed a resort for guests from throughout the world and is a Beaver Valley Horse Club member.

Foster – Jeff and Kim Edland, Glenfield

Jeff and Kim Edland raise wheat, barley, corn, soybeans and oats near Glenfield using minimum-tillage farming methods. They also have a 100-head cow-calf operation. They have been farming for 30 years. Jeff, a 1992 NDSU graduate, also is a member of the Glenfield City Council, Glenfield Housing Authority and Foster County Ag Improvement Association, and is the Glenfield fire chief. Kim has served as the Cooperstown Community Club secretary-treasurer and 4-H leader. They have three children

Griggs – Duane and Janell Feiring, McHenry

Duane and Janell Feiring have a cow-calf operation with Angus genetics near McHenry. They also raise wheat and soybeans as cash crops and grazing corn, alfalfa and tame hay for forage production using no-till, rotational grazing management and cover crops. They have been farming for 26 years and received the Soil Conservation Award in 2016. Duane also is a 4-H leader. Janell is a 1986 NDSU graduate. She was an associate veterinarian for Northwest Veterinary Service and then Cooperstown Veterinary Clinic until 2002. She also is a 4-H volunteer. They have three children.

Kidder – Robin and Shelly Ziesch, Pettibone

Robin and Shelly Ziesch raise beef cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and alfalfa on their family farms near Pettibone using minimal-till and traditional farming practices. They have been farming for 28 years. Robin also is a Petersville Township officer, Pettibone Fire Department firefighter and NDSU Advisory Council member. Shelly is a medical transcriptionist for the Jamestown Regional Medical Center. She also is District 6 director for the North Dakota Farmers Union, the Kidder County Farmers Union president, a Pettibone Quick Response emergency medical responder and squad leader, Pettibone Fire Department firefighter and Pettibone Gaming Board member. She was named Farm and Ranch Guide’s Country Woman of the Year in 2006. They have three children.

LaMoure – Davin and Kristi Wirrenga, Adrian

Davin and Kristi Wirrenga raise grass-fed beef, goats and chickens near Adrian using rotational grazing and goats for weed control. They also use agro-forestry practices and have a machine shop business. They sell the grass-fed beef, chickens and goats for meat, as well as live goats. They have been farming for 17 years and received the Soil Conservation Award in 2017. Kristi and Davin are members of the Jamestown Homeschool Association and Jamestown Farmers Market. They have four children.

Logan – Tony and Barbara Braun, Napoleon

Tony and Barbara Braun raised wheat, barley and corn for silage and had registered Gelbvieh cattle on their farm near Napoleon for 30 years. They were instrumental in starting the Dairy Herd Improvement Association program in their area, and used artificial insemination and cell grazing on their operation. They received awards for being outstanding dairy farmers and the North Dakota Forest Service’s Distinguished Service Award in 2013. Tony also owned a crop insurance agency from 1997 until retiring in 2015. Barbara was manager of the Golden Age Hall senior center for 20 years. They have five children.

McIntosh – Gene and Mary Knoll, Ashley

Gene and Mary Knoll raise corn and soybeans near Ashley. They have been farming for 38 years and have been using no-till farming methods for 20-plus years. Their son Ross has returned to the farm and is helping them implement more precision agriculture technology, such as placing inputs where they are needed, rather than wasting them on hilltops. Gene is a 1982 NDSU graduate. Mary is a part-time medical technologist at the Ashley Medical Center. They have one child.

Ransom – Warren (Bud) and Carmen Lyons, Lisbon

Warren (Bud) and Carmen Lyons raise soybeans, corn and wheat near Lisbon using no-till farming practices, nutrient pest management and cover crops. They also operate a cattle feedlot with a 700-head capacity. They have established windbreaks and put some land into the Conservation Reserve Program. They have been farming for 65 years and have been runner up or placed third in the North Dakota irrigated division of the National Corn Growers Association contest. They’ve also been named to the Dekalb Yield Masters Club for outstanding corn yields. In addition, they received the American Simmental Association’s Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance, the 1990 Knights of Columbus District No. 22 Family of the Year Award and 2016 Seim-Forred Award for conservation excellence. Warren also is a Ransom County Crop and Livestock Improvement Association member. Carmen is a former 4-H leader. They have three children.

Sargent – Kyle and Kathy Marquette, Rutland

Kyle and Kathy Marquette raise wheat, corn and soybeans near Rutland using conventional and minimum-tillage farming practices. Kyle has been farming for 28 years and was selected to participate in the North Dakota Soybean Council’s See for Yourself tour in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. Kyle also is a carpenter and works with his father in Marquette Construction. In addition, he is a Rutland Township officer. Kathy, a 2001 NDSU graduate, is an associate professor in the Business Management Department at the North Dakota State College of Science. In addition, she is a member of the Sargent Central Dollars for Scholars and Dakota Valley Electric Operation Roundup boards and a Sargent County 4-H volunteer.

Steele – Thomas and Mary Kay Klabo, Sharon

Thomas and Mary Kay Klabo raise wheat, barley, soybeans, and pinto and black beans near Sharon using conventional and no-till farming practices. They have been farming for 40 years and are the Steele County candidates for the Future Farmers of North Dakota Award. Mary Kay was an elementary teacher for 37 years. They have two children.

Stutsman – Curtis and Laurie Brown, Montpelier

Curtis and Laurie Brown raise corn, wheat, soybeans, peas, alfalfa, millet and triticale near Montpelier using minimum-tillage farming practices. They also have a registered Charolais herd, a commercial Red Angus-cross herd and a commercial heifer development program. They have an annual production sale at their ranches’ sale facility in March. They have been farming for 36 years and received the Stutsman County Conservation Award. Curtis, a third-generation farmer/rancher, is a member of the American International Charolais Association, North Dakota Charolais Breeders Association and North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. Laurie, a retired elementary school teacher, is a member of North Dakota CattleWomen and Montpelier Lutheran Church Cemetery Board. She also is a Stutsman County Fair 4-H helper and announcer. They have two children.

Wells – Steven and Kristen Jones, Bowdon

Steven and Kristen Jones raise certified seed and new seed releases for crop improvement near Bowdon. They farm with his two older brothers and raise rye, spring wheat, barley, field peas, soybeans and corn using no-till farming practices. They have been farming for 26 years. Steven, a 1997 NDSU graduate, also is a 4-H leader, Wells County 4-H Council president, Wells County 4-H Livestock Committee chairman, Wells County 4-H shooting sports head coach, FFA Alumni Board secretary and Speedwell Township supervisor. Kristen is a prekindergarten teacher. She also is a 4-H leader, Wells County 4-H Explorers Group Committee member and Bowdon Ambulance emergency medical technician volunteer. They have three children

An agribusiness award recipient also is chosen annually. This award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of agriculture and business in North Dakota and beyond. This year’s award recipient was Bill Bowman, former North Dakota state senator.

All photos courtesy of the NDSU Extension.