Alumni Honored as 2002 “Top Aggies” at NWSA Reunion
Five alumni of the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) were recognized as “Top Aggies" for the year 2002 at the annual reunion held recently at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC).
Receiving the honors were Charles “Casey” Brantner ’50 of Moorhead; David Haugo ’52 of Waubun, Minn.; Ralph and Carol (Green) Tucker ’52 of St. Thomas, N.D.; and Donald Strickler ’62 of Euclid, Minn.
NWSA Top Aggies for 2002
included (from left back) Donald Strickler ’62 of Euclid, Minn.; David
Haugo ’52 of Waubun, Minn.; Charles “Casey” Brantner ’50 of
Moorhead; and Ralph and Carol (Green) Tucker ’52 (seated) of St. Thomas,
N.D.
The Top Aggie Awards were established in 1970 to honor Northwest School of Agriculture alumni, faculty, and staff who, in the eyes of the NWSA Alumni Association, have had a significant impact on the lives of their fellow citizens through professional and service contributions in their occupations, community, church, education, and other service and non-profit organizations.
The Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) was a residential high school operated by the University of Minnesota from 1905 through 1968 on the campus that is now UMC. There have been a total of 5,433 NWSA alumni.
Charles “Casey” Brantner
Charles “Casey” is the youngest of twelve children and lost his mother at the age of nine. Attending the NWSA, eating in the dining hall, living in the dorm with two roommates, and traveling with the sports team were all new experiences for Brantner, who learned to appreciate and accept the differences in people.
After leaving the NWSA, Brantner started farming on his own in 1951. He raised small grains and sugar beets and attending NDSU during the winter months. In the 1960’s he began breeding and raising Arabian horses. He also judged Arabian horses throughout the United States and Canada for more than 25 years and served as an officer for the International Arabian Horse Association. Brantner still rides, trains, and breeds horses and was featured on the cover of “Team Penning USA” magazine in 1995.
Brantner was elected Clay County Commissioner in 1966 and continues in that position today. He is currently chairman for the county board and serves on the Human Service Policy Committee and the Minnesota Social Service Association. He is involved with other organizations including the Association of Minnesota Counties, RRV Sugarbeet Association, Clay County 4-H, Director of MN 4-H, Director of Dilworth Lion’s Club, Board of Trustees, North Buffalo Lutheran Church, numerous horse associations, and the NY Drugs and Medications Committee. He has also served as Chairman of the Ethics Committee for IAHA, volunteer judge for 4-H and local horse shows, and a judge for the US Special Olympics.
David Haugo
Haugo’s formal education ended with his years at the NWSA. After being offered a scholarship to Concordia College in Moorhead, an uncle offered to rent his land to Haugo, who then chose to start his farming career. He has maintained a life-long interest in education through the University of Minnesota Extension seminars, reading, meetings, and various ag-related opportunities.
Haugo has been a full-time farmer for 50 years. He farmed with his father for 20 years, and since 1986 he has farmed with two sons, Allan and John. Haugo’s family now farms over 6,000 acres, producing grain, sugarbeets, beans, corn, and alfalfa. He has also been a Registered Seed Grower with Minnesota Crop Improvement for over 40 years.
Haugo has served on his church council and as a member of the Waubun School Board. He is active in the DFL party. In 1971 he was named Mahnomen County King Agassiz. He has served on Red River Valley Winter Shows Board, and in 1994 he received the Builder of the Valley Award.
From 1993-2001 Haugo served as Chairperson of the USDA’s Minnesota FSA State Committee. Currently he sits on the Minnesota Barley Growers Board and is a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union. He has been a member of the Minnesota Wheat Growers Board for eight years and president of that group for two years as well as having served on the National Board of Wheat Growers. Haugo is also a member of various ag co-ops and other farm organizations.
Ralph & Carol (Green) Tucker
Ralph and Carol (Green) Tucker run a successful farming business raising crops of wheat, potatoes, sugarbeets, edible beans, and other crops.
The two have been married 46 years, and they have seven daughters, two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. They both retired at age 62 and spend part of their summers at Lake of the Woods and winter on the gulf shore of Alabama.
After graduating from the NWSA, Ralph served with the U.S. Army in Korea while Carol attended UND for three years to study journalism.
They have been members of St. Thomas Catholic Church, each serving as President of Church Council and many other positions. They are members of the American Legion and its Auxiliary. Ralph also belongs to the VFW. Ralph has served on the St. Thomas School Board and was president. He was on the initial Airport Authority, getting an airport for St. Thomas. He was also an officer and long time member of the St. Thomas Booster Club and a volunteer fireman.
Ralph has served on the North Dakota State Seed Commission, the National Potato Council, the National Potato Board, the North Dakota State Potato Board, and the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, from which he was the recipient of their 2001 Meritorious Service Award.
Carol has served as the Editor of North Dakota Outdoors and as an advertising manager at the East Grand Forks Record.
Donald Strickler
After graduating from the NWSA, Strickler attended NDSU and graduated in 1966 with a degree in animal science and ag economics. He served in the National Guard from 1966-1972. He and his wife, Ellen, have been married for 36 years, and they have five children and four grandchildren.
Strickler has been a farmer in the Euclid area since 1966. He formed a family farm corporation with his parents in 1968, following his father’s retirement. Strickler and his son, Brent, currently farm approximately 5,000 acres, and they bred and sold Black Angus cattle for over 30 years, selling their herd in 1997.
Strickler has served on many committees to promote agriculture and improve marketing of rural commodities. His children were very active in 4-H, and they have been strong supporters, officers, and leaders of that program for 25 years. Strickler has been a lifetime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Euclid, where he has held all offices including trustee.
Over the years, he has served on the West Polk County Soil and Water Board, the Executive Board of West Polk County Farm Bureau, the Angus Coop Elevator Board, the Warren School Board, and the Angus Township Board, where he was treasurer.
Strickler has been president of the Minnesota Angus Cattle Association and the Northwest Cattleman’s Association. He is currently a member of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association and the Advisory Council of the Northwest Research and Outreach Center. He has served on various committees of the Red River Valley Shows and is currently president and a board member of the Crookston National Bank.
Special awards include runner-up in the 1978 Minnesota Outstanding Young Farmer Program; the 1982 West Polk County Conservation Farm; and the 1988 Red River Valley Hall of Fame.
Posted 07/16/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435