Vannurden
named Agriculturalist of the Year
written
by Sheyna Strommen with the ND Stockman Magazine
North Dakota
State
University
’s (NDSU) Saddle and Sirloin (S&S) Club named
Valley
City
native, Doug Vannurden, the 84th Little International
Agriculturalist of the Year.
Since 1924, the club has presented the distinguished award to leaders in
agriculture who possess the personal and professional attributes that S&S
members strive to exemplify.
Now residing in
Mandan
, Vannurden was raised on a farm west of
Valley
City
. He earned a bachelor’s and a
master’s degree from NDSU in 1975 and 1993, respectively.
In the 1970’s Vannurden worked as the agricultural education teacher and
FFA advisor at
Beach
High School
in Beach. While there, three of his
students received American FFA Degrees, one was elected a state FFA officer, and
one earned National Proficiency finalist recognition.
In 1986, he became the Assistant State Supervisor for Agricultural
Education in
North Dakota
. In that role Vannurden advised 24
state FFA officer teams and a national FFA officer.
He also served as a state advisor to the North Dakota Post Secondary
Agriculture Student Organization (NDPAS), working with state PAS officer teams
and 11 students who held national offices.
During his career, Vannurden was instrumental in starting
North Dakota
’s Range Judging competition and authored the original North Dakota Range
Judging Handbook. He also
contributed to the current handbook being used by FFA and 4-H programs
throughout the state.
He has served as the junior livestock show coordinator at the North Dakota
Winter Show since 1986 and helped establish the North Star Classic Livestock
Show.
Vannurden has served in leadership roles for countless boards, including
the National PAS Organization, North Dakota FFA Foundation, National FFA
Organziation, and the National FFA Foundation.
He has also served as a member of the North Dakota Ag in the Classroom
Council since 1986.
“Doug has always strived to educate students, the media,
and the general public on the importance of agriculture in
North Dakota
, said Beth Bakke Stenehjem, ND FFA Foundation Director.
Vannurden and his wife Linda have two children, Walyn and
Wendy, and three grandchildren, Alaina, Mark and Zachary.
S&S members will present the award to Vannurden during the club’s
annual banquet Friday, Feb. 12, at the Ramada Plaza Suites in
Fargo
. Tickets for the banquet are $25
per person and can be purchased from Banquet chairperson Kate Moser at kate.1.moser@ndsu.edu
or any one of the club members.
The 84th Little International showmanship contest begins at 8
a.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, with the championship round-robin competition to begin
at 6 p.m. The annual event will
conclude with a dance in the chips; music provided by the Roosters.
ND FFA Foundation