Slope County, N.D., weed control officer honored

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has named Joan Lorge, Amidon, as the recipient of the 2016 Weed Control Partner Award.

Lorge has served as Slope County weed officer since 1991. She also serves as the Slope County Tax Equalization Director and a weed seed free forage inspector.

“Joan has worked efficiently with a limited budget through cooperation with other groups and agencies to ensure effective weed control for all areas of the county,” said Goehring. “She is an accomplished grant writer and has supplemented the Slope County weed control budget with grants from a number of agencies and organizations.”

Goehring said Lorge has an excellent new and invasive weed program in Slope County and has found a number of new weeds that have since been eradicated because of her early detection and control efforts.

“Joan promotes an active outreach and education program that targets various groups throughout the community,” Goehring said.

Goehring presented the award to Lorge on Tuesday, Jan. 5, during the 2016 Commissioner’s Weed Forum in Mandan.

Lorge has been actively involved with the North Dakota Weed Control Association (NDWCA) over the years, serving as area director several times and as president in 2001. She has also served on many NDWCA committees.

A Bowman native, Lorge received her bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. She and her husband, Farrell, farm and ranch near Amidon, N.D. and have three grown children.

–North Dakota Department of Agriculture