Samantha Hogstad, an NDSU graduate student in plant sciences from Frost, Minnesota, was one of two recipients awarded a scholarship by the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society.

The scholarship program is designed to support the training of the next generation of sustainable food systems workers. Candidates for the scholarship must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited post-secondary education program in a curriculum related to sustainable agriculture or an approved mentorship program.

“As one of the few students pursuing a career in organic agriculture at NDSU,” said Hogstad, who earned her bachelor's degree at NDSU in 2014. “it is important for me to be an advocate for this niche market. I believe sustainable management and production will be vital in the future.”

Hogstad's graduate research focus is on weed control for organic production systems. The projects she is working on related to this focus are long-term organic tillage and sheep grazing, and strawberry mulch and biochar. Her graduate program adviser is Greta Gramig, assistant professor of plant sciences and weed biology and ecology project leader.

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