Congratulations to the U.S. Durum Growers Association 2019 Amber Award winners and its scholarship recipients.

Amber Awards

Jay Fisher, Minot, N.D., and Russell Doe, Reeder, N.D., both received 2019 Amber Awards. The Amber Awards recognize individuals who have shown outstanding commitment and dedication to the durum industry in the areas of production, research or education.

Fisher is president of Fisher Research LLC, a precision and value-added agriculture company, and he serves as a state representative. He has spent over 37 years as an agronomist and director at the North Central Research and Extension Center.

Doe has been a durum producer for 42 years and has operated a custom harvesting business for the past 25 year. He custom harvests grain from Oklahoma to South Dakota. Doe served as a USDGA board member for nine years, including two years as president.

Scholarship winners

USDGA awarded Alexa Lystad, Fargo, N.D., and Jack McCrory, Linton, N.D., with scholarships

Lystad received the 2019 Monroe Scheflo Scholarship. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in in the plant science at North Dakota State University. She has been active in her family farm, and was an NDSU undergraduate and graduate research assistant, research Extension specialist in sugarbeet weed control, presenter and author of sugarbeet research and extension reports, and a presenter at the American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists in 2019. She is the daughter of Mark and Lori Martinson.

McCrory received the 2019 USDGA Scholarship. He is a college sophomore at NDSU. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture economics. McCrory has been active in his family farm and is a member of the National Honor Society and his church youth group. He was valedictorian of his high school class and an Academic All-State nominee. Upon completion of his degree, McCrory plans to return to his family’s farm and ranch. He is the son of John and Lisa McCrory.