2/21/2007 – News
Volume 124, Number 3
Brinsmade native receives Manitoba horticultural award
Dr. Dale E. Herman, professor of horticulture at NDSU in Fargo received the 20th Stevenson Commemorative Award on February 2 at the 109th annual Manitoba Horticultural Association convention held in Dauphin, Manitoba. The MHA convention has a long history of encouraging gardening and horticulture since the early days of agricultural settlement in the province.
The Stevenson Award is named after one of Manitoba’s early horticultural pioneers, A.P. Stevenson, who settled in the area of Morden in 1874. He had grown fruit trees in Scotland and soon began to plant trees from eastern Canada, the US and the British Isles. Many of these early plantings failed but he soon found that introductions from Russia were more adapted to the harsh continental climate of the prairies.
Stevenson’s work encouraged the Canadian federal government to establish the Morden Experimental Farm (later a research station). This facility became a driving force in horticultural research in the northern plains and Prairie Provinces. The Manitoba Horticultural Association honored Stevenson’s work as a contributor to the MHA and to horticulture with the establishment of the Stevenson Gold Medal, later to be known as the Stevenson Commemorative Aw-ard, presented for “Conspicuous achievement in horticulture.” The Stevenson Award is the highest award given for horticulture plant selection and breeding in the Prairie Provinces and northern states.
The Stevenson Award was first presented in 1932 and has since been given 18 times to additional horticulturists from Canada and the US.
Dr. Herman’s award was given on the 75th anniversary of its first presentation. Dr. Herman grew up in the Brinsmade area, graduated from Leeds High School in 1956 and from NDSU in 1960.
He earned M.S. and PhD. degrees from Purdue University in 1963 and 1966. He served on the horticultural faculty at South Dakota State University for five years before choosing to return in 1971 to a position at NDSU. He has remained on the NDSU faculty carrying out research, teaching and extension. Dr. Herman has introduced more than 30 new plants to the horticulture trade, has taught a generation of students, has supported horticultural institutions such as the International Peace Garden, NDSU Research Arboretum and the ND State Horticultural Society, to name just a few of the groups he has given much time. He has published widely both in the academic and popular horticulture press. Numerous awards have come to Dr. Herman for his work including honors from his university and both the South Dakota and North Dakota State Horticultural Societies.
At the awards ceremony Dr. Wilbert Ronald, a noted plantsman and owner of Jeffries Nurseries of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, described three of the many introductions Dr. Herman has been involved in to give a picture of their significance. Dr. Ronald mentioned the problem with weeping birch and many paper birches that slowly thin out at the top of the trees and then die. Usually this is due to the pesky larval stage of the bronze birch borer that destroys the cambium layer and weakens and then kills the tree. He further stated that Prairie Dream?paper birch was selected by Dr. Herman from a group of seedlings grown from seed collected from native paper birches growing in western North Dakota. It is resistant to the birch borer and will prove valuable in limiting the damage in landscapes.
Prairie Expedition American elm represents a significant advance in finding local Dutch elm disease resistance in the northern native American elm. Ronald said that this local survivor in the Fargo area is hardy and could give the needed confidence to grow American elm as a reliable shade tree. Ronald described Dr. Herman’s Prairie Spire?green ash as the most popular and well-liked of the many green ash introductions. He noted, “While these three examples may be of mainstream plants, Dr. Herman has worked with many lesser-known plants, including many native plants in an effort to widen the palette of choices for gardeners. He knows the native vegetation of the northern states and has extensively used these natives to broaden northern plant selection.” Ronald further stated that “Herman has rigorously tested thousands of different tree and shrub accessions in the NDSU Research Arboretum and this has given reliability to the performance of the introductions. He knows his native species well and has spent days exploring native stands. He has stressed diversity in his selection work.”
His current research project is entitled “Breeding, Selection and Introduction of Hardy Woody Plants for the Northern Great Plains.” Dr. Herman has been directly involved with the introduction of 33 woody plants for commercial production and landscape use.
He served on the International Peace Garden board of directors. He has served continuously since the early 1970’s on the International Peace Garden Planning Committee (past-secretary and chair). He served on the board of directors of the Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society. He served on the North Dakota Community Forestry Advisory Council, Fargo Forestry Advisory Committee and numerous department/university committees.
Honors include the “Forest Resources Educator of the Year” Award from the ND Centennial Trees Commission, Mortar Board Outstanding Academic Advisor and recipient of an Honorary FFA State Degree. He has written numerous publications, and served as an author for “The North Dakota Tree Handbook,” which received state and national recognition. An expanded edition, entitled “Trees and Shrubs for Northern Great Plains Landscapes,” was published in 2006. In 1996 he was recognized for a quarter century of service to NDSU. Herman received “The John Robertson Memorial Award in Horticulture” from the South Dakota State Horticultural Society and the R.L. Wodarz Award from the North Dakota State Horticultural Society. In 1999 he received the H. Roald and Janet Lund Excellence in Teaching Award – Senior Career and the ASHS “Distinguished Achievement Award for Nursery Crops.” In 2007, he was selected by the NDSU Bison Ambassadors as an Apple Polisher Honoree.
Dr. Ronald received the Stevenson Commemorative Award in 2002.
Brinsmade native Dr. Dale Herman of NDSU at Fargo, right, received the Manitoba Horticultural Association’s A.P. Stevenson Commemorative Award at the association’s annual meeting in Dauphin, Manitoba February 2. Presenting the award is Tena Kilmury of Brandon, Manitoba, president of the Manitoba Horticultural Association.
Valentine queen
The Maddock Memorial Home crowned its Valentine’s Day king and queen at a special dinner held for residents. King Harold Tweit received a box of chocolates and Queen Dimo Christianson received a vase of flowers. Queen Dimo is pictured with her flowers.
Bell Ringer Award
Jean Callahan, elementary principal at Minnewaukan School, was recently awarded the North Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals "Bell Ringer Award" at the NDAESP mid-winter conference in Minot on February 8. The Bell Ringer Award identifies those individuals who are nominated by their peers for their positive contributions, for making a difference and for doing good.
Wood carving class held
The Mollargutten Sons of Norway Lodge sponsored a wood carving class Feb. 10 at the Maddock Community Center. Mr. Gordon Bennett of Thompson was the class instructor. Students began with a roughed out figure and carved it smooth, put in accents and facial features, painted and waxed their creations. Gordon Bennett, left, gets right in with his students, Marilyn Poulsen and Leah Poulsen.
Everyone left the class with a finished project.
Front row, left to right, are Flo Kallenbach, Leah Poulsen and Joleen Risovi. Back row: Gordon Bennett, Elvin Olson, Alice Engkvist, Marilyn Poulsen and Linda Summers. (Not pictured, Dennis Haugen)
Little "I" hippology contest
The 81st Little International Hippology contest was held February 9 in Fargo. The Benson County Hippology senior team (Janna Rice, Sharisa Yri and Kris Keller) placed sixth, with Janna placing first individually. The junior team (Jessica Johnson, Carah Hestdahlen, Katie Rice, Chelsey Weigler, Savana Nystrom and Charles Coleman) placed second in their division beating 23 other teams. Pictured with their trophies are left to right, Jessica Johnson, Sharisa Yri, Carah Hestdahlen, Katie Rice, Chelsey Weigler, Savana Nystrom, Kris Keller, Janna Rice and Charles Coleman.
Club donates
Lowell Haagenson, representing the Leeds-York Wildlife Club, recently presented donations to several area causes. Above, Haagenson gives a $500 check to Cindy Ritterman of the Leeds Active Women for the Leeds Days celebration.
A $2,000 check for the swimming pool was presented to Rick Darling of the Leeds Park Board.
Principal Jason Gullickson of the Leeds School accepted a $500 check for the bleacher fund and a $250 check for the stage fund.
Carol Braaten, on behalf of the Leeds Dollars for Scholars, was presented a check for $1,000.