Submitted Photo Kathy and Ray Kopp of Des Lacs were honored Nov. 18 at the 48th annual Harvest Bowl.

FARGO — Ray and Kathy Kopp of Des Lacs were honored Nov. 18 at the 48th annual Harvest Bowl, which recognizes the work of outstanding agriculturists in 53 North Dakota counties and eight Minnesota counties.

The Kopps were selected to represent Ward County at the event held at North Dakota State University, Fargo. They grow grow wheat, sunflowers, flax, soybeans and canola and raise beef cows with their daughter, Amanda. For 30 years, they have been a no-till operation. They were one of the first to use strip tilling and the first to grow sunflowers in northern North Dakota. In 2020, they received third place in the National Wheat Yield contest.

In addition to farming, Ray Kopp worked in seed sales, and Kathy Kopp spent three years working for NDSU Extension and 20 years working at Davy Pottery. Ray is a member of the Rolling Green Township Board and St. Mary’s Catholic Church Board, and Kathy is the Rolling Green Township clerk.

Other area agriculturalists recognized include:

–Williams County, Beau and Amber Anderson, Williston. The Andersons have a diversified farm and cattle operation and use multiple regenerative ag practices and winter grazing practices, calving in May and June. They have been Northern Pulse Growers Association members for more than 15 years. They have a passion for building bridges between livestock sectors and other commodity groups, as well as agribusiness and special interest groups in North Dakota and Montana.

–Renville County, Parker Gates, Mohall. Farming with his father and grandfather, Gates raises certified seed as well as market crops. Gates Farm has taken home top awards in both bin-run and certified seed categories at the North Central Seed Show and Ag Expo over the years. Gates has been involved with the Renville-Bottineau Agriculture Improvement Association for nine years, serving as president. He also serves on the NDSU North Central Research Extension Center board of visitors.

–McHenry County, Rod and Peggy Buri and brother Derrick Buri, Balfour. The Buris farm and have a cow-calf operation that consists mostly of raised cows. Derrick Buri is fire chief for the Drake volunteer fire department. Both Rod and Peggy Buri serve on the township board and rural fire board. Peggy Buri is a rural mail carrier. Rod Buri has worked for Don’s Concrete and both he and Derrick are Knights of Columbus members.

–Bottineau County, Danen and Natalie Lodoen, Westhope. The Lodoens have farmed for 14 years. Danen Loedoen is an agriculture loan officer at State Bank of Bottineau, a director for Dakota College at Bottineau Logrollers and member of the Border Ag Condo Association Board. Natalie Lodoen is a substitute teacher at Westhope schools, helps with Westhope PTO and serves on the Bottineau County Imagination Library Board.

–Burke County, Steven and Karen Pfeifer, Bowbells. The Pfeifers have farmed for 17 years. Steven Pfeifer is a Burke County Ag Improvement Board member, a county representative for the North Dakota Soybean Council, vice president of the Burke County Race Club and a member of the Nodak Race Club. Karen Pfeifer is a victim-witness advocate for the Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office, Vice President of the North Dakota Victim Assitance Association and a coordinator for Bowbells Country Club’s Friday Night Frenzy.

–Divide County, Gene and Michelle Pulvermacher, Crosby. The Pulvermachers have been farming for 43 years. Gene Pulvermacher is an Ag Improvement member and member of the Farmers Union Board, Farm Services Agency board and church board. Michelle Pulvermacher is an administrative assistant at the NDSU Extension-Divide County office, a 4-H leader and member of music boosters church board and county redistricting board.

–McLean County, Brian and Renee Fransen, Underwood. Fourth generation farmers, the Fransens participate in on-farm research trials for seed, crop protection and agronomy companies. Updating their facilities, equipment and technology has enabled them to farm more efficiently and improve quality and yield of crops. Brian Fransen has served on the McLean County Crop Improvement Association Board of Directors since 2012 and serves as a county representative for the North Dakota Pulse Growers Association and the Wheat Commission. Renee Fransen works as a paraprofessional at Underwood Public School and holds a doctorate in physical therapy.

–McKenzie County, Cameron and Lacy Wahlstrom, Alexander. Cameron Wahlstrom recently transitioned to full-time farming after spending his early career as a research specialist at the NDSU Williston Research Extension Center. He is on the McKenzie Electric Board of Directors, the Upper Missouri G&T Board, the McKenzie County Crop Improvement Board and the North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association Board. He also is the Soybean Council representative for McKenzie County. Lacy Wahlstrom owns Ruby Jae boutique, coaches elementary volleyball and is on the Alexander Public School Foundation Board, the Alexander Community Builders Association and her church council.

–Mountrail County, Jim and Rebekka Enge, Stanley. The Enges run a diversified crops and livestock operation. Jim Enge is a third-generation farmer, in the business of farming and ranching for 32 years. He and his nephews own and operate E&E Beef Company, selling directly to consumers. He is an Ag Improvement director and member of the Stanley FFA CTE Committee, Pinnacle Board, Mountrail County Fair Board, Mountrail County Township Officers Association and township board, church council and the Mountrail County Medical Center Board of Directors. Rebekka Enge is administration manager of finance at Northrop Grumman Corp.

–Pierce County, Yolanda Schmidt, Towner. Schmidt worked in the dairy industry for six years and taught animal science and daily classes at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, South Dakota. In 2012, she returned to North Dakota to become the agriculture and natural resources Extension agent in Pierce County. In 2020, she joined the Natural Resource Conservation Service as a rangeland management specialist in Pierce and McHenry counties. She has received numerous awards, including the 2021 Natural Resource Conservation Service spot award for her Conservation Planning 101 program, 2021 Friend of 4-H award and several NDSU Extension Program of Excellence awards. She earned a master’s degree from NDSU in 2021.

Other recipients included Rod and Tracy Schilling of Mercer in Sheridan County and Doyle and Kerry Lentz of Rolla in Rolette County.