Grassroots Leadership Award
In 1987, NDTOA established the Mr. Township Award which was
dedicated to the founder of our organization - Hank Weber of
Casselton, North Dakota. The name of the award was later
changed to the Grassroots Leadership Award to recognize the many
female township officers in our state.
This award was presented to a township officer who, through his or
her actions, had served their township, their community and/or
their state with exceptional service.
The first recipient was Jim Braaten from Crary, Ramsey County, in
1987.
Click here to see all past
Mr. Township/Grassroots Leadership Award recipients.
2016
Grassroots Leadership Award:
Curtis Hemstad; For 42 years of distinguished service
on behalf of Idaho Township in Mountrail county. PHOTO NOT
AVAILABLE
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Legislator of the Year Award
Legislative success requires friends in the legislative arena.
This award program was established to reward, on an annual basis,
one of those legislators who have been of great help to the NDTOA.
These awards are given at the annual meeting awards banquet. Each
winner has a chance to be recognized in the presence of as many
township officers as are assembled at the annual meeting and
convention. The award recipient is given a plaque and are invited
to address the NDTOA membership.
The qualifications to receive this award depend on if the
legislator has been a repeated sponsor, co-sponsor or defended in
committee or on the floor of their house, township endorsed bills.
Senator David O’Connell, a township officer from the Lansford
area, was the first award winner.
Click here to
see all past Legislator of the Year recipients.
2016 Senator Terry Wanzek, District 29, Jamestown -
Senator Wanzek serves on the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
In recognition of his work to support
rural transportation, Senator Wanzek was presented the award at
the 50th annual meeting banquet. He is from Jamestown in District
29 which includes Foster, much of LaMoure and Stutsman counties.
He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and has been
instrumental in securing the state grants townships have received
in past sessions. Senator Wanzek is a farmer, rancher and business
owner; he received his education at Jamestown College and Texas
A&M. He and his wife Janice have three children and three
grandchildren. He was first elected to the legislature in 1993.
Pictured left to right - Recipient
Senator Terry Wanzek & Larry Syverson, NDTOA Executive Secretary
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NDTOA President's Award
In 2016, the NDTOA Board of Directors created the President's
Award as a way to recognize exemplary contribution by individuals
that are not elected officials.
President's Award:
2016: Willie Huot, Grand Forks For his
service and assistance to townships.
Willie Huot, native of Red Lake Falls, MN
received both a BS & M Ed. degrees from the University of
Minnesota. Upon completion of his education, he served in the
Peace Corps in Morocco, North Africa for two years before starting
his 41 1/2 year Extension career with the Cooperative Extension
Service.
The first 13 years he spent with the Montana Extension Service;
serving in two different counties in the greater Missoula area.
During this time he was responsible for a wide variety of
extension programs including crop and livestock production,
horticulture and 4-H.
In 1990 began his career with the North Dakota Extension service,
serving two years in Ramsey County before transferring to Grand
Forks where he has spent the past 24 years. During this time, he
has served as the secretary for the Grand Forks County Township
Association. He has worked closely with the Board of Directors in
coordinating and facilitating bi-annual meetings for all township
officers’ help they better carry out their board responsibilities.
Even though he retired on December 31, 2016, he will continue
serving as the board secretary for the near future.
Pictured left to right - Recipient
Willie Huot and Al |
