A long-time beef industry spokesperson and a nationally-recognized holistic range manager are the latest inductees into the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame. Nancy Jo Bateman of New Salem, ND and Jerry Doan of McKenzie, ND will be inducted March 8th, during the 2023 North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.
As Executive Director of the North Dakota Beef Commission for 38 years, Nancy Jo Bateman became a familiar face and voice to producers and consumers alike, advocating for beef and the beef industry her entire career. Considered the longest-serving beef council executive in the nation, she has delivered thousands of consumer and producer programs, media interviews, educational and Ag in the Classroom sessions and cooking demonstrations; and voiced the popular “Beef Insights” radio series. Bateman retired at the end of 2022.
Jerry Doan grew up on the Black Leg Ranch near Bismarck, a ranch that under his leadership has become recognized nationally as a showpiece for holistic management and land restoration. Doan is a strong advocate and spokesman for the system in North Dakota, nationally and internationally.
Doan served as the first chair of the State Board of Ag Research and Education and has also chaired the state Ag Coalition, ND Beef Commission, Rural Leadership ND and state Grazing Lands Council.
The ND Agricultural Hall of Fame provides a way to honor men and women who have made significant contributions to the state’s leading industry, agriculture. These inductions bring to 61 the number of men and women have been inducted into the hall since it was created, by statute, in 1997.
