Cross is 2008 Ransom County Agriculturalist of the Year
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Norman Cross, Milnor, was selected as the 2008 Ransom County Agricultura-list of the Year at the 44th Annual Awards Banquet. The banquet and meeting was hosted by the Ransom County Crop and Livestock Improvement Association (RCCLIA) on Tuesday, March 11th at the Lisbon Expo Center.
Paul Billing, Master of Ceremonies and chairman of the RCCLIA, welcomed all the attendees which included past award recipients and their spouses who were in attendance and also introduced the RCCLIA current board of directors.
RCCLIA secretary and also the county’s extension agent read last year’s minutes and treasurer Shane Schlecht presented an updated financial report in written form. Both were approved.
In their election three directors, Jeff Lyons, Schlecht and Dan Olson, were re-elected with a unanimous ballot. Other directors include Anthony Anderson, Jerome Freeberg, Gary Geske, and Ryan Lyons.
Billing thanked Dave Rotenberger for all his years of service on the RCCLIA. Rotenberger decided not to seek re-election.
A ham and roast beef supper was served by Enderlin’s Sami V’s ChopHouse following prayer by Pastor Norm Anderson.
Former Miss Rodeo America, Ashley Andrews, was the entertainment for the evening as she delivered a captivating and inspiring program for the attendees.
Norman Cross was born in Synda Township, Ransom County. He graduated from Milnor High School and attended one year at NDSSS in Wahpeton for Auto Mechanics and Welding. He and his wife were married in February 1951 and they have five children and 15 grandchildren.
Norman farmed with his dad up until his dad retired. He started buying his dad’s share of the land in 1958. He had a diversified farm, raising wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn in the early years, and a lot of sunflowers after they gained popularity. In addition to raising crops, he maintained a herd of approximately 125 pure black Angus for many years. When the Angus started getting docked at market for their smaller size, he introduced Hereford, Charolais, and Limousin to the herd to increase calf size. He also raised hogs, and about 500 head of sheep for many years. He was one of the first producers in the area to use liquid nitrogen on his corn crop.
While Norman was farming he practiced crop rotation. In the early 60s he planted several one row tree belts to help prevent the soil from blowing and drifting. Later on he went on to plant three and four row shelter belts. His children still recall helping hoe all of those trees.
Norman currently has 200 0acres enrolled in the CRP program and maintains the CRP by routinely going out and spraying for noxious weeds.
Norman has also been very active throughout the community, having served on several boards. He was appointed to the Ransom County Water Resource Board when it was first formed in 1970. He served on this board for 23 years and most of those years he served as the chairman. While serving on this board he worked hard to establish Dead Colt Creek Dam and Recreation Area. He was also a member of the Tri-County Water Board for several years. He is an active member of the United Methodist Church in Milnor, and has served as chairman of the Administra-tive Board, on the Board of Trustees, and leader of the Methodist youth group. He was also very active in the Milnor Community, serving on several boards. Norman was a member of the Milnor School Board, and was an initial member of the Milnor Satellite Club. He was also involved with the Milnor Community Development Corp, and the Milnor Golf Course Association. He was a leader in the square dance world also. He was a member of several local and national square dance callers associations, and served as U.S. Director for the Internat-ional Convention for several years.
A few of the past awards he has received include the Outstanding Young Farmer Award, ND Waterwheel Award, the Commodore Award, given to him in 1983 by Governor Allen Olson in recognition of meritorious service in promoting conservation and responsible uses of fresh water resources in the State of North Dakota. He also received the ND community Leadership Award in 1988.
Norman’s partners in life have been his wife Clarice and five children: Karen, Conni, Laurie, Sandy, and Brian.
Past Man of the Year recipients include: 1965 Albert Strand*; 1966 Wesley Tanner*; 1967 R.D. Magill*; 1968 Alf Larson*; 1969 Oscar Ringdahl*; 1970 Wesley Leibbrand*; 1971 Joe Milton*; 1972 Lawrence Dick*; 1973 Earl Sulerud*; 1974 Albert Cross*; 1975 Lloyd Forness*; 1976 Russell M. Bueling; 1977 Vernon Dagman*; 1978 John Kaspari*; 1979 Neal B. Coit*; 1980 Levi Carlson; 1981 Walfred Billing; 1982 Richard Torbenson*; 1983 Alden Cavett*; 1984 Raymond Stroh*; 1985 Jonathon “Mike” Flatt*; 1986 Wyman Galbreath; 1987 Ardell Slattum*; 1988 Ervin Bartholomay*; 1989 Louis “Bud” Qual*; 1990 Art Alexander*; 1991 Marvin Bartle*; 1992 Ilef Olerud; 1993 Wayne Muilenburg; 1994 Robert J. Lloyd*; 1995 Maynard Hitchcock*. In 1996 the name of the award changed to Agriculturist of the Year: 1996 Irvin “Dale” Morrison*; 1997 Merle Lemnus; 1998 Richard Dick*; 1999 Alfred “Bud” Nord*; 2000 Ernest Fadness; 2001 Alex Rotenberger*; 2002 Harry Hakanson; 2003 Paul J. Spiekermeier; 2004 Charles Rotenberger; 2005 Richard Huether; 2006 Norman “Tony” Brown; 2007 Jim Dick. *denotes deceased