The Morton County consumer choices 4-H team that placed nationally (front, l-r) Renae Tokach, Rachel Goettle, (back, l-r) Tyrza Hoines, Vanessa Hoines, Dominick Goettle. Submitted photo

A Morton County 4-H team returned home with several awards during the 4-H / FFA Western National Roundup in Colorado in January.

The Morton County consumer choices team, consisting of Dominick Goettle, Rachel Goettle, Tyrza Hoines and Renae Tokach, was third place overall in the consumer decision-making competition held in Denver, with a second place in reasons and fifth places in the placings and group process portions of the event.

Prior to the competition, participants studied 12 different consumer topics in preparation for the event. During the competition team members were asked to evaluate and rank four different items related to one of the topics they had researched, six topics were chosen by contest coordinators for the teams to judge. Given the situation that was posed, they ordered the items from best to worst, prepared reasons for the decisions made and presented their reasons to a judge. Following that, teams were presented with a group situation in which they were required to discuss options, make a decision and present their plan to the judges. They were evaluated on their ability to work together and present their ideas in a clear concise manner.

“This event is a great opportunity for youth to learn to make decisions based on priorities/needs and they learn about items they may be actively purchasing as consumers. Finally, learning to defend their decisions in an organized and confident manner is a lifetime skill,” said Vanessa Hoines, Morton County NDSU Extension Agent. “These Morton County 4-Hers are an excellent example of the talented youth we have in North Dakota.”

Individually, Rachel Goettle finished second overall, with a second in placings and fourth in reasons. Dominick Goettle placed fourth overall and fourth in placings.

“Farmers and ranchers faced a host of weather-related production losses which prevented the planting of a record 5.6 million acres of productive farmland,” Governor Jack Dalrymple said. “This expanded disaster declaration makes more producers eligible for assistance.”

Dalrymple asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Sept. 22 to issue a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for all counties that experienced significant production losses. On Oct. 25, Vilsack declared 42 counties primary disaster areas. Based on crop damage assessments, the USDA has now expanded the disaster declaration to include the counties of Morton, Adams, Bowman, Burleigh, Logan, Slope and Stark.

A Secretarial Disaster Declaration makes farmers in primary and contiguous counties eligible for emergency loans or assistance through the federal Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.

These Angus producers were elected to serve on the North Dakota Angus Association board of directors and are pictured at the 2011 North Dakota Angus Association Annual Banquet, Nov. 19 in Bismarck:

(front, l-r) Eric Bowman, Rhame; Joel Opp, Hebron; Brad Tokach, Saint Anthony, past president; Peter Best, Watford City, president; Terry Carter, Rocklake, vice president; Nathan and Emily Spickler, Glenfield, secretary-treasurer

(back, l-r) Mike Wendel, Lamoure; Zachary Hall, Bismarck; Matt Tastad, Rolette; Jonathan Marohl, Solen; Steven Gilje, Rolette; and Richard Koski, Wing.

Photo by Vern Frey, American Angus Association

Photo by Vern Frey, American Angus Association

Renae Tokach, of Saint Anthony, was recently crowned the 2012 North Dakota Angus Princes during the 2011 North Dakota Angus Association annual banquet, which was held Nov. 19 in Bismarck.

Other ladies who were crowned as North Dakota Angus royalty were (l-r) Katelyn Wendel, of Lamoure, 2011 North Dakota Angus queen; Kaitlyn Kline, of Goodrich, 2012 North Dakota Angus queen; and Tokach.

The Eagle’s Wings 4-H Club of Morton County recently attended the State Tree lighting ceremony, which took place Dec. 5 in the Memorial Hall at the North Dakota State Capitol. This year’s theme was Angels, and over 200 ornaments were placed on the tree. The Eagle’s Wings 4-H Club donated 11 of them, which included one member who made an angel with a combine. Following the ceremony, the members of the club had their photo taken with North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and First Lady Betsy Dalrymple.

Miller served as the Little International arena co-chair, and Steckler was named the Ag of the Year chairman.

In his role as Ag of the Year chair, Steckler organized the election the club holds to elect honorees for this award. His other Saddle and Sirloin Club activities include Turkey Sales and Little “I”. He is also involved in Collegiate FFA and Post-Secondary Ag Students. Steckler, the son of John and Gloria Steckler, of St. Anthony, is a senior majoring in agricultural economics.

He is the son of Dan and Rita Miller, of Mandan. Miller is a sophomore majoring in agricultural economics and animal science and has been involved in the Saddle and Sirloin Club through Little “I”, Kiddie Days, Ag Olympics and is the current new member co-chair. He is also active in Alpha Gamma Rho, Dairy Judging and PAS.

Elwood Barth

It was an emotional moment when Elwood “Woody” Barth accepted the gavel as the new president of North Dakota Farmers Union from Robert Carlson. Carlson has been president for the last 15 years and stepped down from the position this year.

“I will cherish this moment forever,” said Barth. “I look forward to working together with the board, staff and members so that we can continue to strengthen rural North Dakota and to keep farmers profitable. We want to make the NDFU triangle of education, legislation and cooperation even stronger. I will serve our organization with pride and with a deep understanding of our heritage. We will be at the table and keep an eye on issues that affect the family farmer.”

Barth has served as vice president of the organization since December 2008. He was first elected to the State Board of Directors in 2003 as the District 5 Director and served two terms as state secretary. He is a member of NDFU’s legislative team and represents NDFU on the board of directors for North Dakota Natural Beef and the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board. This year, he was appointed to the USDA agricultural technical advisory committee for trade in animals and animal products.

Barth is an active community volunteer in Flasher. He and his wife, Carmell, and daughter Rachel, farm south of Mandan, where they raise cattle and grow corn.

A total of 786 people registered for the state convention including 416 delegates and four alternates.

Junior members of the Association are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in Association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events.

The American Angus Association is the largest beef breed association in the world, with nearly 30,000 active adult and junior members.

Wayne and Becci Braun receive their award from NDSU President Dean Bresciani.

Wayne and Becci Braun, of New Salem, were honored during this years’ NDSU Harvest Bowl for their work in field of agriculture.

The Brauns have a registered Red Angus cow-calf herd with a backgrounding operation. They also raise wheat, barley, corn, sunflowers and oats.

Wayne is past president of the Morton County Crop Improvement and New Salem Weigh Station. He also served on the school board and is a member of North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. Becci is an officer for the North Dakota District No. 6 Cattle Women and served on church council. They have three children.

The NDSU Harvest Bowl program recognizes the success, dedication and hard work of outstanding agriculturists in 53 counties in North Dakota and several counties in Minnesota.

An agribusiness award recipient is chosen annually. This award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of agriculture and business in North Dakota and beyond. Allan R. Johnson, former U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, received the 2011 award.

Good Times Ranch 4-H club members learn the milking process. Submitted photos

By club reporter Katie Weiand

The Good Times Ranch 4-H club held its monthly meeting at the home of Andy and Wendy Boehm. After the meeting the group traveled to the Dri-Land Dairy to learn how a dairy farm operates. Three generations of the Boehm family are involved in milking, which takes nearly three hours twice a day. The club learned how much milk cows produce, where the milk goes when it leaves the farm and the process of milking. Everyone got to bottle feed a baby calf and also see the farms pigs and chickens.

The club would like to thank Andy, Wendy, Nathan, Brandy and Pat Boehm for welcoming them and answering their many questions.

Good Times Ranch 4-H club member Katie Weiand bottle feeds a calf.