Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Wahlstrom, Maurer inducted
Pictured from left to right: Duane Wahlstrom, Gail Maurer and OCED Director Kiana Johnson.
The O'Brien County Value Added Ag Steering Committee (VAA) presented its 2022 Ag Hall of Fame awards on July 25 during the O'Brien County Fair. The awards were presented to NCC professor Duane Wahlstrom and Gail Maurer, of Ken's Feed Store.
Successful candidates for this award must have demonstrated leadership, stewardship, community service and service to the agricultural industry. They must also be an O'Brien County resident or someone who engages in agricultural activity in the county.
Duane Wahlstrom began his agriculture teaching career in 1956 after serving his country in the Navy. After earning a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Ag Education from Iowa State, Wahlstrom taught Vocational Ag and led an FFA chapter at Paton and then at Odebolt. In 1974, he accepted a position at what was then Northwest Iowa Technical College as their Ag Business professor.
Wahlstrom has played a key role in FAA leadership and taught several evening veteran's classes in addition to being Northwestern College's Ag Business professor. After retiring from teaching in 1993, he stayed active in the farming community, driving tractor for a local farmer each spring and fall.
Gail Maurer is co-owner of Ken's Feed Store and manager of their Sutherland location. He has been instrumental in helping livestock producers of all sizes operate at their most efficient and cost effective level. Taking an individual approach, Gail has assisted many livestock producers in formulating feed rations to reach their production goals. Maurer has generously shared his extensive knowledge, serving the ag community, the people of Sutherland and Calumet, as well as O'Brien County and the surrounding area.
Since 2001, the O'Brien County Value Added Ag (VAA) Steering Committee has recognized an outstanding citizen with their annual Value Added Ag Hall of Fame Award. Beginning in 2016, a business category was added and from that time on, both an individual and a business have been recognized each year.
Nominations are accepted year round and those received are saved and considered the next year if that nominee is not selected. For more information, contact O'Brien County Economic Development Director Kiana Johnson at (712) 957-1313 or e-mail [email protected].
