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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Two men are now in the N.D. Ag Hall of Fame for their contribution in the field of agriculture.
Alan Bergman of Jud and Dr. James Tilton of Fargo were recognized in a ceremony on Saturday during the 80th annual North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.
Bergman is a third generation farmer and former president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, who is a life-long advocate for cooperatives and family farm agriculture. He spoke with Steve Urness about his career and the honor of being selected.
After graduating at NDSU, he returned home, to Jud, to begin his farming career and took over the full operation of the family farm in the late 1970’s.
During his term as president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, Bergman led the member organization during the turbulent times of the 1980’s when drought was the severest in fifty years and a credit crisis forced thousands of farmers out of business. He was one of four individuals who founded Dakota Pride Cooperative, a marketing co-op for specialty grains, oil seeds, and soybeans, and was instrumental in exploring the farmer/rancher interest in forming cooperative feedlots and producer-owned slaughter plants.
He forged coalitions with other groups, including Canadian farm organizations and cooperatives and, in 1994, was appointed by the Clinton Administration to the U.S.-Canada Joint Grains Commission, which reviewed the grain industry and marketing within each nation. In 1997, he was appointed to the USDA’s task force on research facilities, to devise a 10-year strategic plan to assure the existence of adequate research facilities for agriculture and U.S. producers. He represented ND producers on the world stage as well, when in 2004, he served as chairman of the Group on Grains and Oil seeds of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.
Bergman is committed to cooperative education for youth; he has established scholarships for the North Dakota Farmers Union youth program and continues to be a strong advocate for young producers and co-op members. His honors include NDSU’s Agriculturist Award, a Soil Conservation Achievement Award and the National Farmers Union Meritorious Service Award to Agriculture and to World Agriculture. Bergman and his wife, Pauline, raised four children on the original Bergman homestead and continue to reside there today.
Dr. James Tilton is a retired Animal and Range Science professor, who spent nearly four decades as a faculty member and research scientist on the NDSU campus.
Tilton is a retired Animal and Range Science professor, who spent nearly four decades as a research scientist on the NDSU campus working to improve swine reproduction. He spoke with Steve Urness about his career and being selected to the N.D. Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Tilton graduated from Illinois State University and went on to obtain a Master of Science and a Ph.D. degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University.
Throughout his time at NDSU, he taught courses in reproductive physiology, endocrinology and swine production, served on over 100 college committees and was chairman on numerous committees. Tilton developed the curriculum to initiate an equine studies program, a program which today has over 50 majors and also developed an online interactive course for two state universities, to simultaneously teach a Large Animal Reproductive course at both sites.
He has published over 100 articles on swine reproduction and traveled extensively in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia, discussing management of swine herds. Working collaboratively with eight international swine scientists, an original and updated CD were produced as well, illustrating all aspects of swine reproduction.
Tilton’s honors include NDSU’s College of Agriculture Excellence in Teaching Award, the Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction Award from Oklahoma State University, the Fargo Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Professor Award, the Alpha Zeta Honor Society Teacher of the Year Award, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, and the Medallion of Merit from the University of Warmia and Mazury, Olstyn, Poland, for “fruitful and long-standing scientific cooperation” with the Institute of Animal Physiology.
Tilton and his wife, Judy, currently reside in Fargo. They have four children; Jolene, Brian, Jeffrey, and Lisa, fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Each year, two inductees are selected by the ND Ag Hall of Fame Committee, which is comprised of the following agricultural groups and organizations: ND Lamb & Wool Producers, ND Grain Growers, ND Stockmen’s Association, ND Oilseed Council, ND Dept. of Agriculture, ND Pork Producers Council, NDSU Extension Service, ND Farm Bureau, ND Farmers Union, ND Vocational Agriculture, North Dakota Winter Show, ND Implement Dealers Association, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers, Northern Pulse Growers Association and a representative from North Dakota farm broadcasters and Ag journalists.
The permanent home for the state’s Agriculture Hall of Fame is at two locations, the North Dakota Winter Show Event Center and on display at the Rosebud Visitor’s Center in Valley City.