Dustin Johnsrud and Scott Huso Elected to North Dakota Wheat Commission Board
By: ND Wheat
Posted: Apr 22 2021
Dustin Johnsrud, Epping and Scot Huso, Aneta were elected to the North Dakota Wheat Commission board at their respective district elections in March and will officially begin their terms on July 1, 2021. The Commission consists of seven producer board members, six of which are producer elected and one appointed by the Governor. Elections are held every four years within each of the six districts. The process starts at the county level where a producer is elected to the county representative position. Upon completion of the county elections, the county representatives from each district meet to elect their representative to the board.
Dustin was elected to represent District 2 (northwest North Dakota) on the board. This will be his third term serving on the Commission board. Currently Dustin is the Wheat Commission representative to the U.S. Durum Growers Association, the National Pasta Association and the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. Dustin looks forward to serving another term on the Commission board. “I have really enjoyed working with the industry, especially the durum and pasta industries, opening the line of communication and initiating discussion from the producer side of things. Another important mission of the NDWC is making research funding decisions. As a producer, it is interesting to go through that whole process and make decisions on research projects that can directly help producers,” says Johnsrud. Dustin and his wife Megan have four children and produce durum, spring wheat, canola, peas and lentils.
Scott was elected to serve producers in District 5 (southeast North Dakota). This will be Scott’s first term on the Commission and he has served as the Steele county rep since 2013. Scott says he’s interested in serving as a Commissioner for the NDWC because there is a connection that needs to be maintained and encouraged between wheat farmers and wheat users. “I believe the use of spring wheat from North Dakota plays a much bigger role in world food production than most farmers realize. I look forward to helping the Commission communicate the message to farmers about the importance of the checkoff which helps develop markets and relationships to help solidify North Dakota's position as the leader in high quality spring wheat,” he says. Scott and his wife Elizabeth have one son and grow spring wheat, malt barley, canola, pinto beans, soybeans and corn.
The Commission board is responsible for setting the budget and developing policy and programs for market development, research, domestic promotion, and domestic and trade policy. The Board relies on county representative input when making budget and program decisions. County representatives elected in 2021 are below (incumbents are noted with an asterisk*).
Barnes – Erik Flatt, Valley City
Burke – Eugene Christiansen, Flaxton
Cass – Todd Ellison, Mapleton*
Dickey – Vacant
Divide – Aaron Jacobson, Noonan
Griggs – Scott Tranby, Cooperstown*
LaMoure – Jordan Nitschke, Jud
McKenzie – Vacant
Mountrail– Aaron Skarsgard, Stanley*
Ransom – Travis Dagman, Enderlin*
Renville – Del Gates, Mohall*
Richland – Michael Beeson, Wahpeton
Sargent – Roger Zetocha, Stirum*
Steele – Scott Huso, Aneta*
Traill– Steve Doeden, Cummings*
Ward – Duane Poynter, Sawyer
Williams – Dustin Johnsrud, Epping*