Our Board of Directors
NDFMGA President 2024-2025
Marvin has been a market gardener since creating a farmers’ market in 2005 in Carpio, the community in which he lives. Two years later, he saw the need for a second farmers’ market in Minot and he and his wife Ilene started North Prairie Farmers Market, which continues to thrive in downtown Minot. In 2010, Marvin was part of a group that started an independent market in New Town.
In 2013, Marvin was elected president of NDFMGA and held that position for four consecutive years. Prior to that he had been on the board of directors since 2005.
In 2021 Marvin retired from journalism after spending 31 years as reporter, editor, and photographer. in 2013, he retired from the North Dakota National Guard after spending 35 years in that organization that included a trip to the Middle East in 2007.
Marvin and his wife Ilene own and operate North Star Farms and are the last original vendors at North Prairie Farmers Market in Minot.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025 Treasurer
MIKE PRETZER
Mike Pretzer. serves as the treasurer on the NDFMGA Board of Directors. I am a member of the Rugby Farmer's Market along with my wife, Alecia. We are bread bakers. We call ourselves The Double Batch. Along with a large variety of hand kneaded, made from scratch yeast breads, we also sell a small variety of items from our vegetable garden. Our youngest daughter, Miya, also likes to prepare and sell flower arrangements. You can also visit our Facebook page at The Double Batch.
Photo coming soon!
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Northeast Representative
JANEL ANDERSON
I Janel Anderson along with my husband & son are the owner/operators of Rustic Acres. We offer a large variety of fresh produce at farmers markets in Rolette & Rolla, on farm sales as well as to some local schools. We host a small pumpkin patch in the fall to the local schools & public as well. I have been on the board of directors
for NDFGA for the past 2 years.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Northeast Representative, NDFMGA Vice President
DANIELLE MICKELSON
After a 22-year career as an English Instructor in Rolla, ND, Danielle Mickelson left teaching to pursue a love for growing vegetables and processing family recipes into pickles, sauces, relishes, jams and jellies. Her family began selling at the Rolla Farmers Market in 2015 as a way to share and sell the bounty of their garden, and it quickly became the passion of Danielle and her daughter Rachael. Each year, Mickelson Tiny Plants expands both in size and offerings to their customers. In 2018 the garden will be larger than an acre and include a large variety of fruits and vegetables that are started in their own home. Danielle was taught to grow, can, cook and bake by her parents and grandparents and is honored that her daughter is becoming the driving force in keeping the traditions alive and sharing them with their community. They can be found every Wednesday and Saturday morning, July through October, in Centennial Park in Rolla, ready to share vegetables, fruits, canned goods, and sourdough breads.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Northwest Representative
DESIREE CARLSON
Desiree is a dedicated member of the Minot farming community, deeply involved in
various aspects of local agriculture. Desiree manages operations at Esther's Acres, their family farm, and actively participates in the local farmers market, runs a multi-farm CSA initiative, operates a farm store, and hosts on-farm events. Additionally, Desiree serves as the Strong Farm Educator for Strengthen ND, where she passionately shares her knowledge and skills with aspiring North Dakota small farmers. Through innovative marketing strategies and a deep commitment to fostering connections within the farming community, Desiree is dedicated to driving growth and success for North Dakota farmers and growers.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
At Large Representative
BONNIE MUNSCH
Bonnie Munsch is starting her second year as a representative at large for the NDFMGA. She has been selling vegetables at the Capital Farmers Market since 2002 and became involved with NDFMGA through them.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Southeast Representative
QUINN RENFANDT
Quinn is a grower from Ward County, ND. In 2020, He began to pursue his interest in becoming a local food grower/producer by enrolling in FARRMS Sustainable Ag Internship and the FARRMS Farmers Market Promotion Program Internship. These programs provided him with a high-level mentorship experience in partnership with Aspen Hills Farm, the Dakota College at Bottineau Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture, and the North Prairie Farmers Market in Minot, ND. Since completing the internships, Quinn has worked with Farmers Markets and Growers throughout North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Washington. As an extension of his farming efforts, He is a founding member and currently the Board Chair of the Red River Harvest Cooperative, founded in 2021. The Cooperative operates an online Farmers Market in the Red River Valley region, primarily serving the Fargo/Moorhead communities by offering Pickup + Delivery of farm-to-table products. As of December 2022, fifteen active producers/members are selling through the online farmers market. In addition to its retail operations, the Red River Harvest Cooperative is beginning to develop its Wholesale process. This includes schools, restaurants, food banks, and institutional buyers. The Red River Harvest Cooperative aims to continue developing markets and opportunities for producers and customers.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Southeast Representative
ERIC HEGG
Eric Hegg currently serves as a Program Coordinator for Global Refuge, where he manages the Refugee Agriculture Partnership Program. Since stepping into this role in January 2023, Eric has been pivotal in bringing access to green growing spaces for New Americans and has initiated and led the development of a 1-acre urban garden dedicated to growing and adapting culturally significant crops. This project not only supports agricultural engagement among community members but also promotes food sovereignty and environmental stewardship.
Eric is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in English, and his background includes 6 years as a Marine Corps Officer, and a successful career in tech sales specializing in Microsoft Cloud Technologies. However, a shift in personal values and a growing passion for sustainable agriculture prompted a career transition. After completing the NDSU Master Gardener course, Eric further honed his skills through internships and positions in local gardening initiatives and nurseries. He holds
additional certifications as a Master Garden Diagnostician and training in the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Eric’s commitment to the community and agriculture extends to his service on the NDSU Extension Advisory Council, the board for Growing Together Community Gardens, and the Cass-Clay Food Steering Committee. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Eric brings a disciplined and mission-focused approach to all endeavors. His life’s mission is to revolutionize how food is grown, advocating for a shift back to small, decentralized farms that bolster a resilient and diverse food supply.
In his personal life, gardening transcends being a mere hobby; it is a year-round commitment. Eric is devoted to creating gardens that function as complete ecosystems, emphasizing biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. Through seed saving and selective breeding, he actively works to reduce the growing seasons of warm, long-season crops, further aligning with sustainable agricultural practices in the Northern Great Plains.
Phone: 701.671.9894
Email: eric.hegg@globalrefuge.org
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Southwest Representative
SUE BALCOM
Sue B. Balcom has been working in local food systems since 2009, serving as the first Local Foods Marketing Specialist at the ND Department of Agriculture. During that time, she also was chosen as North Dakota’s first Farm to School State Lead for the National Farm to School Network. Sue also designed the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Project, still in effect today, during her tenure at the state. Growing up in a local economy, Sue has been baking, canning, gardening, and talking about food her entire life. Currently a member of the Bismarck Farmers Market, Sue and husband, J.C., farm north of Mandan. Her book on the German Russian food culture sold out its first printing and is still available from the Tri-County Tourism Alliance. Sue has done public speaking about local foods, wrote newspaper columns about food and gardening and has a segment on Prairie Public Radio’s Main Street program Thursdays called Main Street Eats with Root Seller Sue.
NDFMGA Board of Directors 2024-2025
Southwest Representative
JONATHON MOSER
Jonathon Moser started organically gardening over 20 years ago. He has spent the last two decades learning and directly working on local and regional food systems. He spent some time working in the non-profit sector of alternative agriculture and food systems, but has always been more at home practicing what he preaches. He is passionate about changing food culture and helping communities realize that they are a part of the ecosystem that they live in. In 2014, Jonathon and Hannah (his wife and business partner) started Forager Farm providing the highest quality organic produce and microgreens as well as artisanal sourdough baked products made from regionally sourced organic flours. Currently we are trying to grow our business to a sustainable level to provide a solid example of how a local food business can be built to not just provide us livable wages but also provide employment and economic development to our part of North Dakota.