Kristie Michels

Hometown: Minot, ND
Education: B.S. Crop and Weed Science and Plant Protection, NDSU (2002)

How did you get started in agriculture?
I grew up on a dairy farm 10 miles north of Minot. My love of animals had me planning an education in Iowa to be a veterinarian, but after I started crop judging through FFA I realized my passion lay in plant sciences.

Work career and responsibilities?
While in high school, I took an Independent Study class where I worked with the local grain elevator’s agronomy manager. This morphed into a retail ag job when some companies merged. My second summer during college I started at the NCREC in Minot as an intern for the Area Extension Specialist who worked with fungicide research. I spent two summers there and was hired full time, after graduation, as a Research Specialist. I am in debt to those who taught me so much at the NCREC, particularly Kent McKay and Brian Jenks. In 2005, I joined my husband, Brian Michels, as a crop consultant for his business in Mohall. We have been doing crop consulting ever since! Now having four full-time employees, we share consulting and business managing responsibilities.

Why be a CCA?
I asked myself “why wouldn’t I be a CCA?” This certification has opened the door to meaningful relationships with other agronomists who want to do the best job they can. Abiding by a code of ethics and continually educating myself seem like one way I can ‘choose the narrow road‘ when it comes to my career.

Hobbies outside of Ag:
Chasing five boys around is a hobby in and of itself! I enjoy traveling with my family to state parks and threshing bees during the summer where we learn North Dakota history and geography together. My husband and I like ice fishing during the winter and being active in my kids’ education in both faith and academics.