Danielson named North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Top Hand

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) awarded 36-year member Russ Danielson with the organization’s most prestigious award, the Top Hand Award, at the banquet during its annual convention in Bismarck, N.D., this evening. The Top Hand Award recognizes Danielson’s dedication to the betterment of the beef cattle industry. Danielson joined the exclusive class of cattle producers who have received this elite award over the NDSA’s 95-year history when he accepted his bronze statue tonight.

Danielson grew up on a diversified farm in Barnes County near Cuba, N.D. His grandfather homesteaded the farm 1884 when he came to the United States from Sweden, and Danielson still owns that land today. He went to kindergarten through eighth grade 2 miles south of their home in Cuba, before attending and graduating from Valley City High School. Danielson went on to North Dakota State University (NDSU), majoring in animal husbandry.

While he was a student at NDSU, Danielson worked at the NDSU Beef Unit and learned more about the beef cattle industry in North Dakota. It was during that time Danielson developed a passion for the industry.

After graduation in December 1964, Danielson completed his National Guard training and subsequently joined NDSU’s Animal Science Department faculty in 1965 and became the university’s beef herdsman. He served in that capacity until 1973, when he assumed a teaching position. Throughout his career as an associate professor, he taught Introduction to Animal Science, Meat Animal Production and Beef Industry and Production Systems courses; he was the faculty adviser for the NDSU Judging Club and Saddle & Sirloin Club; and was a student adviser for undergraduate animal science and equine majors, advising more than 1,000 students in his career. He also established the university’s purebred Simmental herd in 1978.

Overseeing the popular Little International was one of Danielson’s favorite duties. Counting his own years as an NDSU student and Little “I” participant, Danielson was part of more than 50 Little Internationals.

Danielson noted the changes in the university system from the time he attended school until the end of his teaching tenure. “Early in the 1960s, there was one female in NDSU’s College of Agriculture,” said Danielson. “That is a very large contrast to where the NDSU Animal Science Department is today, with more than half of the enrollees being female. It is extraordinary.” His broad industry knowledge, genuine interest in students and unassuming nature made him a favorite instructor of many NDSU students — in some cases, for two generations. Danielson retired from NDSU in 2010 after 44 years.

He and his wife Helen are still avid supporters of the NDSU Animal Sciences Department, awarding a scholarship in their name to animal science majors who are actively involved in the Saddle & Sirloin Club, have demonstrated leadership qualities, maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and have participated or plan to participate in livestock or meats judging programs.

Now, Danielson works as a SimSpecialist for the American Simmental Association (ASA). He attends production sales in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota as a contract worker. He discusses ASA programs and the latest science and technology programs in the beef industry with ranchers in that role.

Danielson stays actively involved in several beef industry organizations, including the NDSA. “Thirty-six years ago, I became an NDSA member after working with former NDSA Executive Vice Presidents Clair Michels and Wade Moser during the International Performance Steer Classic in Valley City, N.D.,” he said. Since then, he has served on the NDSA’s Mentoring Program Advisory Committee and North Dakota Junior Beef Expo Planning Committee. Danielson initiated the Junior Beef Expo, along with Jerry Effertz of Velva, N.D., by pulling together planners to create the multi-breed junior beef field day for North Dakota.

He has also served on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Research Committee, the North Star Classic and the North Dakota Winter Show Livestock Committee. He was the secretary-treasurer of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame and the North Dakota Livestock Endowment Foundation and chaired the Winter Show’s steer shows and Performance Steer Classic. Danielson was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2013.

Danielson is a keen livestock judge, having evaluated beef cattle shows in 26 states and four Canadian provinces, including the National Western Stock Show, Fort Worth Stock Show, Houston Stock Show, American Royal, Cow Palace and Canadian Western Agribition.

He and Helen, his wife of 58 years, live in Fargo, N.D, and have two married daughters, Karla McHugh (Dan) and Beth Hessburg (Tony), and four grandchildren, Vaughn, Luke, Brock and Riley. The couple continues to own the family farm in Cuba Township.

“I am just so grateful to be a part of North Dakota’s cattle industry,” he said. “It’s been great to work with youth, young adults and producers. I have had the opportunity to meet so many great people and friends.”

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Danielson named North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Top Hand