Prairie Shortcuts

Anderson Renamed President Of MAWG
Ron Anderson, Hallock, MN, has been renamed president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers at the organization’s annual meeting held recently in Fargo, N.D. Mike Bruer, Alberta, is first vice president; Richard Magnusson, Roseau, second vice president; and Gaylen Affield, Fergus Falls, secretary-treasurer.  Also serving on the MAWG board are Bryan Hest, Perley; Scott Swenson, Elbow Lake; and Donna Ulseth, Crookston. Tim Dufault, Crookston, recently stepped down from the MAWG board, after serving the organization for nine years.

NDGGA names officers for 2001
Allan Skogen, Valley City, was renamed this year as president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association. Bruce Freitag, Scranton, serves as first vice president; Robert Ferebee, Halliday, is second vice president; and Keith Neshem, Berthold, is secretary-treasurer. 

New to the NDGGA board is Jim Howe, Casselton. He replaces Tom DeKray, Steele, who stepped off the board. Also new is Greg Daws, Michigan, who replaces Louis Arnold, Esmond, as a board representative, and Bob Bahm, Minot, who replaces Tim Johnson of Stanley.  Others who serve on the NDGGA board are Mark Anderson, Regent; Jim Ostlie, Northwood; Dennis Stromme, Zahl; and Randy Schaley, Niagara.

MN Wheat Council Elections To Be Held
The Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, along with other commodity promotion councils in Minnesota, will soon hold board elections.

Four producers are running for two board seats in District One: Dean Carlson, Kennedy; Kelman Kvien, Roseau; Kyle Vig, Fosston; and Bruce Hamnes, Stephen. Don Loeslie, Warren, will step down from the board later this year after serving the Council since 1986.

District One includes the following counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.

Doug Ruud, Twin Valley, is running unopposed in District Two, which includes Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Wadena, Todd, Douglas, Grant, and Traverse Counties.

The elections are conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  “It is important that producers get involved with these elections. The representatives they elect will be fellow producers who are able to understand their commodity’s needs and are willing to develop quality strategies to meet those needs,” says Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson.

Farmers who voted last year will automatically receive ballots in the mail, but those who didn’t participate can still vote this year by requesting a ballot from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 651-296-6883, through the MDA’s website at http://www.mda.state.mn.us, or by requesting a ballot from the MWRPC, 1-800-242-6118 or 218-253-4311, by March 14.

If a producer completed a request card and received a 2001 election ballot, there is no need to request a ballot. However, if the information provided has changed since then or if he or she did not receive a 2000 ballot, then a producer should request a ballot.