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December 8, 2005 Hettinger Research Extension Center Director to Retire in February When Tim Faller and his wife, Kathy, came to the Hettinger Research Extension Center, it was with the idea they would stay for a few years to gain experience. That was nearly 38 years ago. Faller, who has worked for North Dakota State University for more than 40 years, says he will retire as HREC director in February. Faller is responsible for moving the Hettinger center from a small livestock unit to a nationally recognized center for sheep research and development. He also created the Agronomy Department and the Department of Rural Economics at the center. “When Kathy and I came to the Hettinger center, the place had an old house with a 6-foot by 9-foot office, granary, small shop and a dairy barn that had outgrown its usefulness,” Faller says. “The situation sure has changed in the last 38 years. Much of the credit for the change goes to a supportive community, a good staff and the cooperative spirit of NDSU.” Through the years, Faller acquired nearly $4 million in federal, state and private funds to support research, develop facilities and build programs at the Hettinger center, including the recent Southwest Feeders Project. He has been an instructor in more than 40 beginner sheep schools and coordinated the North Dakota Sheep Development Project, which started 65 sheep operations. Faller worked with the Winrock Foundation and USAID, helping producers in Kazakhstan. He spent 14 years on the local hospital board, nearly 19 years on the North Dakota State Fair board, and 11 years on the Southwest REAP board, where he is chair of its investment committee. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the Prison Industries advisory board and was on many high-level personnel search committees at NDSU. Faller is an accomplished livestock judge, having judged more than 50 state fair events in 27 states. He also has judged 11 national shows in the U.S., Canada and South America. “Some of my most gratifying experiences as a livestock judge have come from the hundreds of county 4-H shows that I’ve judged,” Faller says. “I’ve enjoyed watching and helping kids develop their animals and showmanship skills. It’s also been very satisfying working with producers at all levels through the years.” Faller has been recognized with many awards, including two blue ribbon awards from the American Society of Agriculture Engineers for his work with sheep housing and equipment design, a program excellence award from the NDSU Extension Service and the West River Breeders’ agriculturalist of the year award. However, Faller will not be leaving NDSU totally. He has accepted a part-time position as assistant director of special projects from Ken Grafton, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station director and College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources dean. “Tim has been such a tremendous individual to work with in Agriculture administration,” Grafton says. “His thoughts, experiences, energy and optimism are a major reason why the Hettinger Research Extension Center research portfolio has expanded over the years. Tim is the ideal person to be in this new position because it will focus on enhancing overall activities at the RECs.” Faller will devote 50 percent of his time to identifying and establishing coordinated activities with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Northern Great Plains Research Center in Mandan; 20 percent to exploring greater collaborations, efficiencies and program development at the Research Extension Centers; 15 percent to developing a plan to maximize efficient use of NDSU livestock research herds; and the remainder to other duties as assigned. “I know Tim will devote considerable effort to complete these important tasks since he has been doing this as a valued NDSU employee for his entire career,” Grafton says. “North Dakota, agriculture and the sheep industry have been my way of life,” Faller says. “If there are productive things that I can do to assist what has been good for my family all these years, I will participate at any level requested.” ### Source:
Tim Faller, (701) 567-4324, tfaller@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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