Volunteer instructors for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department were recently acknowledged at the annual banquet held in Bismarck.
Mark Weyrauch from Ray was honored as Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. The Hunter Education Team of the Year award was presented to Cody Hirschfeld and Kenny Dvorak, both from Dickinson. James Decker from Bismarck received the Volunteer of the Year award.
Additionally, long-standing volunteers were recognized for their extended service to the department. Those with 30 years of service included Clinton Baxter from Minot, Kevin Bishop from Kathryn, Roger Dienert from Hankinson, Karla Meikle from Bismarck, Gregory Odden from Rugby, Rick Olson from Garrison, Brad Pierce from Hatton, and Mark Weyrauch from Ray.
Volunteers with 25 years of service included Adnan Aldayel from New Rockford, Lynn Baltrusch from Fessenden, Stanley Cox from Jamestown, Don Ferguson from Jamestown, Donn Hancock from Emerado, Doyle Johannes from Underwood, Mitchell Kallias from Minot, Gary Knotts from Fargo, Rodney Parrill from Bottineau, Richard Petersen from Bismarck, Pam Podell from Velva, and Rickie Theurer from Mandan.
Those with 20 years of service were Nathan Fitzgerald from Sterling, Colo., Walter Helfrich from Lincoln, Michael Melaas from Minot, Dustin Neva from Hatton, Jean Oster from Lisbon, Joseph Schirado from Bismarck, Dallas Schmidt from Velva, Dan Spellerberg from Wahpeton, and Gary Wilz from Killdeer.
Finally, volunteers who served for 15 years recognized were Mathew Deal from Sutton, Jason Heinz from Rolette, Petrina Krenzel from Harvey, Richard Lehmann from Towner, Kellen Leier from Bismarck, and Corey Wysocki from Grafton.
