Since 1984

Our History

40+

Years of Weed Control

From one meeting room to a statewide network

When the Legislature made every county form a weed board, somebody had to connect them. This is how a few weed officers turned a conversation into an association.

Before the Association

Leafy spurge came first

Leafy spurge was recorded in eastern North Dakota in the early 1900s, and it kept moving. By the 1950s and 1960s farmers and ranchers were asking their legislators for help, and for rules on moving root stock and seed.

The real beginning of weed law came in the mid 1970s with the first weed control officer, and in 1979 the Agriculture Commissioner was told to keep a list of noxious weeds. In 1981 every county was ordered to create a county weed board. That law is still the foundation.

The Timeline

Moments that shaped the association

1981
Every county gets a weed board
The Legislature directs county commissioners to create a County Weed Board and name a weed control officer. That law is still the backbone of weed control in North Dakota.
Fall 1983
A few weed officers meet in Stanley
Newly hired weed board members and officers sit down to talk cost share programs, spraying and bylaws for a statewide association.
January 1984
The association is founded in Bismarck
Weed officers and board members gather at the Holiday Inn, elect Wayne Colberg of Cass County as the first chairman, write bylaws and set dues at $50.
1985
The first annual meeting
At the Kirkwood Motor Inn the group creates its Board of Directors, with a weed board member and a weed officer from each of five areas. NDSU weed specialist Dr. Rodney Lym speaks, and he has spoken at every annual meeting since.
1986
Biological control arrives
A group drives to Bozeman, Montana to pick up hawk moth larvae for leafy spurge. A Ward County field day shows what helicopter spraying can do on rough ground.
1989
The flea beetle trip
Members tour Manitoba, where Aphthona flea beetles are knocking back leafy spurge. Some counties start using them that same year.
1990
The first newsletter
The NDWCA newsletter is published for the first time.
1995
Membership opens up
Bylaw changes let organizations, agencies and any group interested in weed management join as voting members, and the board adds seats for government and industry. The amended bylaws take effect on January 1, 1996.
1996
A first executive secretary
Randy Mehlhoff takes the new post of executive secretary. Area meetings move to the fall, and spring is given over to sprayer schools.
2003
One week, one place
The annual meeting and the Agriculture Commissioner’s forum combine for the first time, since the same people were attending both.
2007
The Northern Plains symposium
The Education Committee holds the first Northern Plains Weed Management Symposium at the Western 4-H Camp in Washburn.
2008
Kids pick the best poster
The first poster contest is held, with members voting on posters made by 5th and 6th graders from across the state.
2019
Two new names on the list
The Department of Agriculture adds Houndstongue and Palmer Amaranth to the state noxious weed list. Members had passed a resolution asking for Houndstongue two years earlier.
2021
The meeting that went by mail
Covid-19 cancels the annual meeting. The board keeps the association running by email and post, including a paper ballot for 2nd Vice President.
2024
Forty years and counting
Cliff Ferebee takes the gavel as the association marks its fortieth year.

The Full Story

Read the complete history of the association

Download the PDF

Past Presidents

The people who held the gavel

Presidents are installed at the annual meeting, so each entry lists the year and the place where the meeting was held.

1980s
- 1984
  Wayne Colberg
  Holiday Inn, Bismarck
  First chairman
- 1985
  Wayne Colberg
  Kirkwood Motor Inn, Bismarck
- 1986
  Myron Dieterle
  Kirkwood Motor Inn, Bismarck
- 1987
  Myron Dieterle
  Kirkwood Motor Inn, Bismarck
- 1988
  George Bishoff
  Holiday Inn, Minot
- 1989
  George Bishoff
  Holiday Inn, Minot
1990s
- 1990
  Jim Nayes
  Gladstone Select, Jamestown
- 1991
  Jim Nayes
  Sheridan Inn, Bismarck
- 1992
  Victor Lemke
  Radisson Hotel, Fargo
- 1993
  George Hildebrandt
  Doublewood Inn, Bismarck
- 1994
  George Hildebrandt
  Hospitality Inn, Dickinson
  Tenth annual meeting
- 1995
  Jim Basaraba
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 1996
  Jim Basaraba
  International Inn, Minot
- 1997
  Gerald Busche
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 1998
  Merlin Leithold
  Ramada Inn, Grand Forks
- 1999
  Darwin Peterson
  Seven Seas, Mandan
2000s
- 2000
  Bill Ragan
  Best Western, Jamestown
- 2001
  Joan Lorge
  Radisson Inn, Bismarck
- 2002
  Jerome Peerboom
  Doublewood Inn, Fargo
- 2003
  Brent Nelson
  Seven Seas, Mandan
  First joint forum with the NDDA
- 2004
  Wayne Carter
  International Inn, Minot
- 2005
  Terry Volk
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2006
  Jim McAllister
  Days Inn, Dickinson
- 2007
  Myron Dieterle
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2008
  Derrill Fick
  Doublewood Inn, Fargo
- 2009
  Bruce Fagerholt
  Seven Seas, Mandan
2010s
- 2010
  Stan Wolf
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2011
  Dan Folske
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2012
  Dan Folske
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2013
  Gary Hartman
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2014
  Jim McAllister
  Seven Seas, Mandan
- 2015
  Derrill Fick
  Baymont Inn, Mandan
- 2016
  Leon Pederson
  Baymont Inn, Mandan
- 2017
  Kevin Schmidt
  Ramada Inn, Bismarck
- 2018
  Katie Clyde
  Ramada Inn, Bismarck
- 2019
  Jamen Windish
  Ramada Inn, Bismarck
2020s
- 2020
  Cody Schnabel
  Ramada Inn, Bismarck
- 2021
  Travis Jepson
  No meeting, cancelled for Covid-19
- 2022
  Jim Hennessey
  Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck
- 2023
  Stan Wolf
  Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck
- 2024
  Cliff Ferebee
  Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck

Contest and Award Winners

Recognizing the people and kids who make a difference

Since 2008, members have voted on posters made by 5th and 6th graders from across the state. The association also recognizes the people behind the work.