Board of Directors
Merlin Leithold Exec Secretary
Merlin lives on the family farm in Elgin ND which has been in the family for 92 years, raising cattle, horses, and a few chickens. Graduated from Elgin High School, attended Dickinson State College, and Capital Commercial College in Bismarck. Worked at a grain elevator for 14 plus years half of those serving as manager. He has been the Grant County Weed Officer since 1991. Been on the NDWCA board of directors for 18 consecutive years serving as president in 1998. Has been the lobbyist since 1995 and Executive Secretary since 2013. Married to Lorele, they have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.
Josh Short 2nd VP
I am Josh Short with the Cavalier County Weed Board, where I took over as the Noxious Weed Officer in October of 2019. I am a fat, ugly, smart-mouthed, knuckle-dragging Irish kid that resides in Langdon. During the falls and winters I can be found dodging responsibilities in either a spread of goose decoys or running coyote traps with my hounds. Oh! I occasionally work too!
Tom Leo Area III Director
I was born and raised in rural north central Montana. This area is primarily Farming/Ranching country and I grew up working with many of the producers learning to harvest hay and grain, work cows, and mechanic. Of course, weed control was a constant chore. I attended college at Northern Montana College in Havre Montana where I earned a Bachelor degree in Diesel Technology with a Minor in Physics. My wife and I got married during my final year of college. We moved to Billings Montana for my job with Tractor and Equipment Caterpillar and stayed there for about 10 years. During this time, we started raising our two children and decided that we wanted to raise them more rural, like we were raised. We then moved to rural Southwest Montana in the Madison Valley. While getting our footing in the Madison, we immediately recognized the need for better weed control in the area, so we started a weed spraying business. The primary focus was weed control, but the entire concept of Resource Management was our mission. We evolved and specialized in riparian ecological areas as those were the areas that most people were uncomfortable treating. This area of Montana is primarily ranching, and we took great pride in removing weeds from the landscape to open up just one more spot where a cow could get another bite of grass! As the kids grew up and started their own lives our daughter and grandson landed in western North Dakota and we decided that 9 hours away was too far, so we started job searching. The stars aligned and my wife and I were able to quickly find stable jobs nearby our grandson so here we are! Although I am not dealing with the large amount of livestock, I still prescribe to the resource management mindset to protect the ground I’m responsible for because this is all the ground we have, they’re not making any more.
Levi Jacobson Government Rep
I am Levi Jacobson; I am the new Government Rep on the Board of Directors for the NDWCA. I live in Bismarck and work for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department as the Wildlife Resource Management Supervisor in the south-central part of the state. I have been with the Department for close to 15 years. I oversee 9 counties and the management of about 33k acres of Wildlife Management Areas that the Department owns or leases. These acres are managed to provide the optimal habitat for wildlife reproduction as well as hunting opportunities.
I am excited about this opportunity to be on the board. As a land manager, noxious weed control is an integral part of my job. We try to use the latest technology and advancements in chemical, biological, and mechanical means to control noxious weeds; all while maintaining the integrity of our grasslands. Being on the board will not only aid in my commitment to effective weed management, but it will also allow me an opportunity to help landowners and land managers develop an effective weed control program.
Stan Wolf Past President
Stan has been the Cass County Weed Control Officer since 2004. He has developed an aggressive weed control program, utilizing contractors to spray state, county, and township road ditches. He also monitors and sprays Water Resource and county owned properties where needed. He initiated a program whereby newly platted subdivisions will need to submit and file a Weed Management Plan with the county planner and the weed control office.
Cliff Ferebee President
I am currently serving on the Dunn County Weed Board and Dunn County JDA. I am a past Dunn County Commissioner and have served on several boards including Farm Credit Services on the local, state, regional, & national levels. My wife, Marion, and I are actively involved in farming and ranching in Dunn County along with our son, Bob and his wife, Amy, and our grandsons, Kyle and Clay.
Roger Gunderson Area I Director
I have worked at Ramsey County Courthouse for 32 years. Have been Secretary for Ramsey County Weed Board since 2002. Weed Officer since 2004. Live in Devils Lake.
Rick Schmidt Area IV Director
I started as Oliver County Extension Agent and Oliver County Weed Control officer in December of 1993. We operate a club lamb, registered angus and simmental operation east of Center. I am married to Renae and have 4 girls, Rebecca, Reanna, Rachel and Reagan.
Bill Walker Industry Rep
William “Bill” Walker started his career in vegetation management in Algona, Iowa in 1979 working for a company called Lawn Manicurists (for 5 years), (since changed to Brush and Weeds Inc.). From there he worked for another company (for 5 years) until he started his own companies in 1989, ran his own companies for 10 years and sold them and started his career on the other side of the application business in Pesticide Sales and Vegetation Management Consulting.
Bill has been working in the vegetation management field for 39 years now, he sits on the North Dakota Weed Control Association board of directors as their Industry Representative, Belle Fourche River Weed Management District board and is a past member of HHC (Healthy Habitats Coalition) and has lobbied in Washington, DC for better Vegetation Management on Federal Lands and is a member of numerous State and Federal organizations dealing with vegetation management.
Bill helps to put on numerous training schools every year dealing with Pesticides Safety, Proper Application, Equipment Training, Calibration Training, Noxious Weed Identification and other aspects of vegetation management and is always happy to come and help individual agencies in figuring out their vegetation management needs and solutions.
Jim Bahm 1st VP
Is currently serving his third term on the Wheat Commission representing wheat growers in the southwest portion of the state. He is also vice-chair on SBARE; and chairs the Northern Crops Council representing the NDWC.
Bahm represents the Commission on the ND Ag Coalition and serves as is vice-chairman.
Bahm currently serves on the Morton County Weed Board. He has previously served on the New Salem school board, Morton County Crop Improvement, and was a certified crop advisor and consultant.
He and his wife, Labeth farm in New Salem where they produce hard red spring wheat, barley, flax, oats, corn, soybeans and sunflowers. He also has a cow/calf operation. The couple have four adult children and eight grandchildren.
Jamen Windish Area II Director
Is the Barnes County Weed Officer. He has been involved with weed control since 2010. He was the NDWCA President in 2019. Grew up in Jamestown ND, graduated Valley City State University with a Business Administration degree in 2015. He enjoys the outdoors and his time in the kitchen cooking and baking. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family and his two nephews.
Joan Lorge Area V Director
Joan is the Slope County Weed Control Officer, and Slope County Tax Director. Joan became the Control officer for Slope County in 1991. Joan was elected 2nd Vice President of the Association in 1999 and served as President of the Association in 2001. She is currently the Area 5 director. Joan attended the Western Weed Forum in 2001 and took the test and became a Certified Manager of Invasive Weeds in 2004. Joan received the 2016 Ag Commissioners Weed Control Partner Award.
Joan was born and raised in Bowman North Dakota. She spent most of her time growing up on the family farm in Slope County. Joan and her husband Farrell, have a daughter and two sons. They live west of Amidon where they raise spring wheat and durum, much of which is grown for certified seed, field peas, chickpeas, oats, barley and raise hay. They raise Gelbvieh cattle along with 4 English pointer dogs.
Samantha McGrath NDDA
Samantha has been with the ND
Department of Agriculture for 10 years, previously serving in the fiscal department. She is originally from a
ranch in Steele, ND, and graduated from the University of Mary with a Bachelor of Science. She is working
on getting to know the program and part of that will be to understand your county programs, please give
Samantha a call and tell her about your program.
